“It is finished.” (John 19:30)
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WhyshouldwemeditateonthefinalwordsofJesusfromthecross?
CarolinePerkins,ChurchPOPAsVenerableFultonJ.Sheenexplained:“TherewasneverapreacherlikethedyingChrist.TherewasneveracongregationlikethatwhichgatheredaboutthepulpitoftheCross.TherewasneverasermonliketheSevenLastWords.”FatherRaymondJ.deSouzaalsosharedthisspiritualpracticeintheNationalCatholicRegister:“ThereisanotherGoodFridaycustom,thatofthe‘SevenLastWords,’mademostfamousinrecenttimesbytheVen.FultonSheen,whopreachedtheSevenLastWordseveryGoodFridayfor58years.”BelowarethelastwordsofJesus,alongsidethecorrespondingscriptureverseandprayerwrittenbyVen.FultonSheenhimself.CarolinePerkins,ChurchPOP1)“Father,forgivethemfortheyknownotwhattheydo!”(Lk.23:34)Prayer:DearJesus,Idonotwanttoknowthewisdomoftheworld;Idonotwanttoknowonwhoseanvilsnowflakesarehammered,orthehidingplaceofdarkness,orfromwhosewombcametheice,orwhythegoldfallstotheearth,earthly,andfireclimbstotheheavens,heavenly;Idonotwanttokno
