On Friday 30th March, Good Friday, His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols marked the Lord’s Passion in central London by joining the Walk of Witness and attending the Wintershall Passion play in Trafalgar Square before celebrating the Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion in Westminster Cathedral.
At 12 noon, Cardinal Nichols joined Christians of different denominations in the Walk of Witness which began at Methodist Central Hall. The procession, led by a man carrying a cross symbolising Christ’s journey to Calvary, made its way along Victoria Street with tourists clicking pictures in amazement of what they witnessed. The Walk of Witness ended on the steps of Westminster Cathedral, with Cardinal Nichols preaching to the assembled crowd.
Immediately afterwards, the Cardinal attended the Passion Play in Trafalgar Square, performed by the Wintershall Players, where he led the crowd in prayer.
At 3pm, the Cardinal presided over the Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion in a packed Westminster Cathedral. Among the concelebrants were chaplains of Westminster Cathedral, the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams along with Bishop Mark Jabalé, Emeritus Bishop of Menevia.
In his homily, the Cardinal said: ‘he was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins… On him lies a punishment that brings us peace and through his wounds we are healed.’
‘Jesus, the crucified one, he added, ‘our 'supreme high priest,’ prays for us, to his Father. He knows our every weakness and failing, though he is without sin. So, we are told, we should never be afraid 'in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need'
He said, ‘Let us resolve, today, that in our homes there is a place for Jesus and Mary… a crucifix, a statue, a focus and a reminder of the love they have for you every day and of the love you show for them today by your attendance here at this wonderful Liturgy.'
The homily can be read in full here
Pictures from the Mass can be found here
