Catholic youths dramatise Christ’s agony as Lent ends
TBy Adie Vanessa Offiong
he Lenten season, which began on Ash Wednesday, ended last Wednesday as the Easter Triduum began with the Mass of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter, today.
Explaining these three days, Reverend Fr. Patrick Alumuku, Director of Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, said: “These days, which we refer to as the Easter Triduum, are the highlight of the entire Lenten season.”
The Mass of the Last Supper was celebrated last Thursday, where Christians remembered Christ having a meal with his disciples and giving to them the greatest gift a father would give to his children when he is departing: the gift of his body and blood in the form of bread and wine.
Alumuku, who is also the parish priest of St. Martins Catholic Church, Mabushi, described this as a twofold giving of a gift that will remain, and the giving of himself which they will not understand at that point until Good Friday when he dies on the cross.
Across Catholic parishes, there was a dramatisation of the Stations of the Cross, which chronicled the events leading up to Christ’s death on the cross.
At Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Utako, youths dramatised each of the 14 stations replicating the different episodes of Christ’s journey to Calvary.
Among other stages, the beatings he received from soldiers, Simon of Cyrene being dragged to help him with the cross, Veronica wiping his face, as well as how he was nailed to the cross and his eventual death, were re-enacted.
These scenes caused cringing amongst parishioners and onlookers alike who, from timeto-time, would shake their heads, accompanied by sighs.
Mamah Celestine, a parishioner, said the dramatisation of the Stations of the Cross brought to life, the journey of Jesus Christ to the cross of Calvary.
“The Passion of Christ as he made his way to the cross of Calvary is something we read or watch in the movies as part of our Christian history. But seeing it dramatised right before us makes it a lot more real than what I have read in the Bible or seen on screen. The dramatisation brings afresh in our minds what he went through on that day for the sake of our sins. We can visualise what it felt like for him. It affects me in a way that makes me see what the man, Jesus passed through,” Celestine said.
“The death of Jesus Christ then becomes like the highest point of all that he came to do,” Alumuku added, explaining further that: “We celebrate Christmas, but without Good Friday his life would have meant nothing. He came to die and save mankind from sin.
“Good Friday therefore, symbolises God’s unlimited love for us. The centre of God Friday celebration is the cross. Before he