Our faith This Holy Week, meditate on Christ’s last words

SUEANN HOWELL sahowell@charlottediocese.org

As we head into Holy Week, Christians are preparing to immerse themselves in Christ’s Passion. Meditating on the final moments of Christ’s life, and His words spoken before He surrendered His life to God the Father, can take one deeper in prayer and contemplation leading up to the joy of Easter.

“A Place Called Golgotha: Meditations on the Last Words of Christ,” is the latest of 10 books by Catholic author and speaker Elizabeth M. Kelly. In this engaging and personal work, she considers all four Gospel accounts as she takes readers through Christ’s last words from the cross.

Throughout the book, Kelly weaves in stories from her own faith journey, as well as poignant and sometimes tragic moments from other people’s lives that drew them ever closer to Christ. She offers words of wisdom from the saints and creates the opportunity for selfreflection and prayer at the end of each of the seven chapters.

Also inside

PAGES 14-17: Read reflections about the Last Words of Christ from two exiled Nicaraguan priests

Kelly recently visited the Diocese of Charlotte, offering conferences during the Mary’s Women of Joy Lenten Retreat at St. Mark Parish in Huntersville, March 17-20. Using this book on Christ’s last words as a guide, she led 150 participants on a journey of self-discovery and contemplative prayer.

“Lent is about understanding that the Father desires to change hearts,” she told the retreat participants. “It’s a turning from self and toward Him. … Part of living means carrying the cross and bringing light into the darkness.”

Kelly shared that growing up in Minnesota with farms all around, she noticed how seed planted in the dark soil would grow, breaking free of its shell, reaching toward the sun.

“It is in this manner that we approach meditating with the last words of Christ on the cross,” she said. “We enter into the darkness, trusting that there are spiritual nutrients to be extracted, nutrients that will help us grow through moments of darkness in our lives, graces and

Daily Scripture readings

APRIL 2-8

Sunday (Palm Sunday of the passion of the Lord): Matthew 21:1-11, Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Matthew 26:1427:66; Monday: Isaiah 42:1-7, John 12:1-11;

Tuesday: Isaiah 49:1-6, John 13:21-33, 3638; Wednesday: Isaiah 50:4-9a, Matthew 26:14-25; Thursday (Holy Thursday):

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15; Friday (Good Friday): Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9, John 18:1-19:42; Saturday( Easter Vigil): Genesis 1:1-2:2, Exodus 14:15-15:1, Exodus 15:1-6, 17-18, Romans 6:3-11, Matthew 28:1-10