By his wounds you have been healed

We had a most moving and dignified Solemn Commemoration of the Lord's Passion here at St Peter Cathedral.

The most impressive part of this liturgy, for me, is always the veneration of the Cross by the faithful. We had a full cathedral, and everyone had time to come forward and kiss or otherwise venerate the crucifix.

As a priest, one is privileged to know something of the burdens that many of the people are bearing - family conerns, economic difficulties, the challenges of bringing up their children in a hedonistic world, recent bereavement... All came and embraced the wounds of Christ and found healing and strength as they did so.

Many of those venerating the Cross today had taken part in the 40 Days for Life prayer vigils outside Planned Parenthood. I prayed for many of our "opponents" during the veneration - if only they could have been here and experienced the outpouring of God's love in the Sacred Passion of His Son, and taken the opportunity to kiss His wounds to find healing and forgiveness for all the woundedness in their lives.

This is what the Church has to offer all mankind: true redemption through the love of Christ that has been poured out upon us and the love that binds us to one another. We approach with confidence the throne of mercy as we were all entrusted to the motherhood of Mary by Our dying Lord on the Cross.