Though the cross reigns over Good Friday, Easter's mystery needs a symbol of its own.  I don't usually think of Jesus' crucifixion when passing the sweets table, but there it was: A big rich dark chocolate cake adorned with white sugary latticework in the shape of-you guessed it-a cross. It wasn't completely out of place, since I was at an ordination.

By grieving with the Blessed Mother, we comfort all mothers who mourn.In my hometown of San José de Gracia in Jalisco, Mexico, church celebrations marked the pace of our lives. Though liturgical reform took time to arrive, the practices of popular Catholicism kept our faith alive and active.

The liturgy of Good Friday gathers believers of every generation before the Tree of Life.hose of us in our 60s and beyond remember something like this from our youthful Good Fridays: After what seemed like an eternity of Latin readings (mostly John’s account of the Passion), followed by another eternity (during which the interesting part was seeing if you could actually get both knees on the kneel