Friday, April 06, 2007

During today's Good Friday services the cross is venerated by kissing the feet of a crucifix. Here are some of the words to a hymn traditionally sung in the Catholic liturgy while this takes place:

"He endured the nails,the spitting,
Vinegar, and spear, and reed;
From that holy Body broken
Blood and water forth proceed;
Earth, and stars, and sky, and ocean
By that flood from stain are freed.

Sweetest wood and sweetest nails,
Sweetest weight is hung on thee.

Thou alone wast counted worthy
This world's ransom to uphold;
For a ship-wreck'd race preparing
Harbour, like the Ark of old;
With the sacred Blood anointed
From the smitten Lamb that rolled.

Sweetest wood and sweetest nails,
Sweetest weight is hung on thee."

On a lighter note, I found three Good Friday superstitions from British days of old:

Eggs laid on Good Friday will never go bad.

Sailors took hot cross buns with them on Good Friday to prevent shipwreck.

Having a haircut on Good Friday will prevent toothaches for the rest of the year.

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