Beneath the Cross: Meditations on the Seven Last Words

by Bishop Gerardo Colacicco

An inspiring devotional book for Lent . . . In Beneath the Cross , Bishop Colacicco offers an original series of meditations on the Seven Last Words spoken by Jesus from the Cross. Each of the meditations is based on a Gospel account of a person who encountered Jesus during His public ministry and now, by way of the author's narrative, is drawn to Calvary to be with Jesus in His final hours and shares his or her personal reflections beneath the cross. These meditations were delivered by Bishop Colacicco at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on April 10, 2020, as part of the Three Hours (Tre Ore) liturgical service held annually on Good Friday to commemorate the Passion of Jesus Christ. This particular service, held during the coronavirus pandemic, was unlike any in recent memory. The bishop delivered his reflections to a nearly empty cathedral but the service was livestreamed, drawing thousands of viewers from all over the world on Good Friday 2020. Since then, more than 51,000 people have viewed Bishop Colacicco's meditations online.

80 pages, Paperback

Published February 8, 2021

Reviews

[Tom Kristan Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful reading of hypothetically determining what some of the sinners would say to Jesus while he was dying on the cross. Bishop Colacicco utilized these notes as a homily at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Good Friday 2020. Not only is the book a riveting reading, it also explains a way and purpose of living a life with Christ. It is definitely a worthwhile meditation on living a life as Christ does and expects humans to live the same way.