Divine Mercy Chapel and Melvyn Brown Welcomes Devotees on Good Friday

Welcome To the Divine Mercy Chapel, 3 Elliot road .Calcutta. Meet Melvyn Brown, AFJ (Ambassadors for Jesus), this Thursday and Good Friday.

A large turnout of Catholics from Several city Parishes visited the Divine Mercy Chapel on Elliot Road today, Good Friday. The footfall was counted at over 410 devotees.

Good Friday Meditation by Melvyn Brown

INVIGORATE YOUR FAITH THIS GOOD FRIDAY

In our preparation for Good Friday we take into account the Liturgical celebration of the Lord's Passion, which is divided into three parts: The Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross and the Holy Communion. 

The reading from the book of Isaiah 52:13-53: 12 is the First Reading. When you read the Word of God through the prophet, it becomes a profoundly meditative presentation of Christ, the Messiah, and the Divine plan is revealed for all generations to come. 

This Good Friday we recollect on Psalm 31. "Let your face shine on your servant". The Psalm enriches our Faith with the promise of the gift from God. We move on to the Second Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews 4:14-16: 5:7-9. I want you to read this letter, for I believe the Spirit will guide you and encourage you to know your faith better. "Christ became obedient unto death, even death on a cross". I have repeated this from my previous talk for Passion Week. Try to look down from the Cross and become as deeply involved as Christ in this salvific labour. Pause in your prayers. 

Our next way is to read the Gospel. The Passion of our Lord Jesus according to St. John 18:1-19:42. The second part is the Adoration of the Holy Cross. Part Three is Holy Communion. The incarnation "to live among us" is completed in the Eucharist. John. 1:14. When you receive Christ in Holy Communion it becomes a prelude to eternal life.

MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!". This is in commemoration of the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem. Open your Bible to the Gospel of St.Mark and read 11:1-10. This is again a beautiful reading for Palm Sunday. "Hosanna in the highest!".

 On Maunday Thursday we should go to Church for the Mass of the Lord's Last Supper. The liturgy for this day is given to us in five installments: Liturgy of the Word; washing of the feet; the liturgy of the Eucharist; moving to the altar of repose and, finally, Adoration. 

Good Friday is the celebration of the Passion of the Christ. On this Holy Day we recall the liturgy of the Word, read the gospel of John 18:1-19:42. It is a unique diary on the Passion. In the Chapel of Divine Mercy I show the film Passion of the Christ. Many come, although they have seen it earlier. It is for the heart-breaking experience to relive the pain and the agony of Christ who sacrificed His life for our salvation. "Christ became obedient unto death, even death on a cross".(Phil 2: 8-9) Let us mediate on the suffering of Jesus, and let us both emotionally and physically (in prayer and penance) ask God for His mercy and love.

UNEXPLAINED LIGHT AT DIVINE MERCY CHAPEL ON GOOD FRIDAY

UNEXPLAINED LIGHT AT DIVINE MERCY CHAPEL ON GOOD FRIDAY By Melvyn Brown, AFJ

Amazing . That was the only word used by a devotee who failed to say anything more. The burst of light on the altar of the Divine Mercy at 3 Elliott Road, Calcutta, happened at 5:15 p.m. on Good Friday.

Keeping to the annual practice the statues had been covered since Maunday Thursday ; and the door of the chapel was kept open from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight for pilgrims who go visiting seven to nine places of worship in the city.

On the following day, Good Friday, from 6 a.m. to 12 noon the chapel door was kept open till noon. Some 300 devotees had visited the chapel. The count was kept by the distribution of free medals and prayer cards. The Good Friday service at St.Mary’s church started at 3 p.m. After the service I returned home , closed the door and window and went into the inner room to rest.

Around 5:15 p.m. the burst of light on the altar made me rush out. I snatched the camera which I had used in the morning to take pictures of the devotees. After the photo was taken the light was gone in a few seconds. It cannot be explained.

ASH WEDNESDAY BEGINS THE SEASON OF LENT BY MELVYN BROWN

Ash Wednesday begins a fresh liturgical period with a special prayer to help us discover our mission in life’s journey. This is possible during lent when we take upon ourselves three simple practices : to Fast , to Pray and to show Compassion to all God’s children.

Pope Benedict XVI recently highlighted the importance of fasting when he said, “ Fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it.”

Ash Wednesday is a time to recall and imitate the forty days when Jesus withdrew into the wilderness : a time of soul-searching , repentance and preparation for His passion leading up to Easter. From now on we will stay with Jesus through His divine ministry , His suffering in Holy Week , His Crucifixion and on Good Friday, His death. Finally, to rejoice in His Resurrection.

This is also a time to make a spiritual resolution.

In 2003 ,Pope John Paul 11 called for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. The Holy Father went on to explain the reasons for his decision , to observe Ash Wednesday on March 5 of that year.

“It is a duty of believers , regardless of the religion to which they belong , to proclaim that we will never be able to be happy if we are against one another. The future of humanity will never be able to be assured by terrorism and the logic of war, “ said the late pope, who will be beatified on May 1 this year.

Pope John Paul 11 told Catholics, “ to dedicate with special intensity Ash Wednesday to prayer and fasting for the cause of peace … “ He went on to say, “In every Marian shrine an ardent prayer for Peace will be raised to heaven with the praying of the holy rosary. “

Jonah’s call to the people of Nineveh was to repent and to announce a fast. ( 3.9 ). God heard their prayer and spared them.

This year , 2011, Ash Wednesday will be on the 9^th March and it will draw us nearer to Jesus and closer to our faith. The rosary can be the common invocation throughout the season of lent , remembering the ‘ Sorrowful mysteries’ each time in prayer. May this be the spiritual resolution we take upon ourselves.

Ash Wednesday initiates the period of lent. From the start of the Holy Season we prepare ourselves in the mystery of redemption.

The Church has picked the readings for each Sunday in Lent starting with Ash Wednesday (Ps. 51:3-4, 5-6. Mat 6: 1-6,16-18.) Ash Wednesday renews the faith ,the baptismal promises affirmed. The origin of Lent was a preparatory time for Easter when the people of God rededicates themselves to Him.

The Readings for each Sunday in Lent will be given in my writings .