© Vatican Media A dialogue of prayer: within a darkened St. Peter's Basilica on Good Friday, Rev. Mr. Aaron Kelly '22 (Rochester), on the far right at the ambo, prays the general intercessions. To each of them, Pope Francis, seen on the left, responded with a concluding prayer.
Celebrating the Mystery of the Lord’s Cross
G
REV. MR. AARON KELLY ’22, DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER
rowing up, I always loved Holy Week, particularly the Sacred Triduum. I always looked forward to singing in the choir for the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Some of my earliest memories of thinking about priesthood came during those liturgies. While seeing the priest celebrate those most solemn liturgies, I always thought to myself: “I want to do that.” Now, years later, during my last Holy Week before ordination to the priesthood, I had the opportunity of a lifetime—to serve as a Deacon Cantor during the papal Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion. Deacon Alexander Wyvill ‘22 (Washington) and I had the privilege of chanting St. John’s Passion during Pope Francis’s Good Friday Liturgy. In addition to the Passion, I chanted the general intercessions. For me, this was one of the most special moments of the Liturgy. I chanted the beginning of each intercession, announcing the petition for which the community was praying. Then, after a period of silence, the Holy Father would conclude with a prayer. In a sense, I was dialoguing with Pope Francis, and it was in this moment that I felt a particular closeness to him.
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The Pontifical North American College
I was struck by the intention which prayed for the Holy Father by name. I sang: “Let us pray for our most Holy Father Pope Francis, that our God and Lord, who chose him for the Order of Bishops, may keep him safe and unharmed for the Lord’s holy Church, to govern the holy People of God.” He responded with a prayer asking God, despite his unworthiness, to protect him and aid him in his governance of the Christian people. This prayer was particularly poignant because you could visibly see the physical suffering and pain of the Holy Father, which required him to sit more than normal. In this moment, I could see Pope Francis’s love for Christ and the Church and his desire to give himself entirely to the office with which he has been entrusted. It was evident to me that Pope Francis had a personal knowledge of the cross and Good Friday, yet was moved by the Easter promise of the Resurrection. As I prepare for ordination to the priesthood, I was inspired by the example of Pope Francis. He illustrated to me the charge given at priestly ordination: “Understand what you will do, imitate what you will celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord's Cross.” He showed me that the priest must be willing to give himself entirely and be ready to embrace the cross while always living in the hope of Easter. n
