IS IT NOTHING TO YOU? Joost De Blank  (1958) The meditation  was originally written by Archbishop Joost De Blank, and spoken before the people of St. Stephen's Church, Westminster, in 1952, telling the story of the Crucifixion as if seen from the eyes of the Centurion, Loginus,  in charge of the prisoner Jesus. It would have taken about three hours to give. The Archbishop reflects on each of the traditional Seven Words for the Cross: "Father Forgive Them", "Thou shalt be with me in Paradise", "Woman Behold Thy Son!...Behold Thy Mother!", "My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?" "I Thirst", "It is Finished", and "Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit" Introduction from the original writing: Every Good Friday Longinus retires to his cell in the monastery of Caesarea in Cappadocia and lives again the events of the first Good Friday, events in which he took so prominent a part as the centurion in charge of the execution party. Today we share his meditation with him. It is to be remembered that the Christian tradition holds that Longinus was converted as a result of his participation in our Lord's crucifixion, and that he himself met death by martyrdom. So that our meditation may be applicable to us now in our own circumstances not only do we make ourselves his contemporary, we also make him ours The Original foreword This mediation is printed substantially as it was spoken before the people of St Stephen's Church, Westminster, in 1952. Style has been deliberately sacrificed to colloquialism for it's impact lies in its conversational manner. For the same reason if a thought can be illuminated by an anachronism it is used without hesitation. Equally, imaginative reconstruction has not been curbed by historical exactitude. No attempt has been made to include the whole content of the Gospel as this simple act of devotion is designedly couched in personal terms calling for personal response. Joost Stepney The Text of the Meditations The Introduction The First Word The Second Word The Third Word The Fourth Word The Fifth Word The Sixth Word The Seventh Word The Conclusion   You are visitor number UK Online Casinos This free counter  is supplied by Visible Counter