The Clock of the Passion: From the Last Supper to the Burial – Our Savior’s Via Crucis Hour by Hour

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The drama of the Lord’s Passion is not merely a distant memory—it is the very heart of our Catholic faith, a mystery of divine love revealed in every drop of blood and every painful step Christ took toward Calvary. The Church, our mother and teacher, has always venerated and mourned each moment of Good Friday, beginning on Thursday evening when Jesus instituted the Eucharist and gave Himself for us.

Below is a detailed, hour-by-hour account of the events that marked humanity’s Redemption. May this guide help us accompany our Savior on His way of the Cross and unite our sufferings to His.

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Holy Thursday: The Hour of Eucharistic Love

🔹 6:00 PM – The Last Supper

• Jesus celebrates the Jewish Passover with the Twelve in the Upper Room.
• Institution of the Eucharist: “Take and eat, this is My Body… this is My Blood” (Mt 26:26-28).
• Washing of the Feet: A lesson in humility and service.
• Solemn announcements: Judas’ betrayal (Jn 13:21) and Peter’s denials (Lk 22:34).
• Farewell discourse: “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34).

🔹 8:00 PM – Journey to Gethsemane

• Jesus and the apostles sing the Hallel psalms and depart for the Mount of Olives.
• Prophecy about the disciples’ scattering: “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Mk 14:27).

🔹 10:00 PM – Agony in the Garden

• Anguished prayer: “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Lk 22:42).
• Sweating blood (Lk 22:44): A sign of His interior suffering.
• The disciples sleep: “Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation” (Mt 26:41).

🔹 12:00 AM – Arrest and Betrayal

• Judas arrives with soldiers and betrays Him with a kiss (Mt 26:48-49).
• Jesus is seized; Peter cuts off Malchus’ ear (Jn 18:10).
• The disciples flee (Mk 14:50).

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Good Friday: The Hour of Darkness

Early Morning – Unjust Trials

🔹 12:30 AM – Interrogation Before Annas

• Annas (former high priest) questions Him illegally. Jesus is struck for answering truthfully (Jn 18:22).

🔹 1:30 AM – Trial Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin

• False witnesses accuse Him (Mt 26:60).
• Jesus affirms He is the Messiah: “You have said so” (Mt 26:64).
• Condemned for blasphemy, He is spat upon and beaten (Mk 14:65).

🔹 3:00 AM – Peter’s Denials

• Peter denies Jesus three times before the rooster crows (Lk 22:61).
• Jesus’ gaze: Peter weeps bitterly (Mt 26:75).

🔹 5:00 AM – Formal Sentencing

• At dawn, the Sanhedrin confirms His death sentence (Mk 15:1).

Morning – Mockery and Scourging

🔹 6:00 AM – First Appearance Before Pilate

• Accused of sedition (Lk 23:2). Pilate finds no guilt (Jn 18:38).
• Sent to Herod Antipas (Lk 23:7).

🔹 7:00 AM – Jesus Before Herod

• Herod mocks Him and sends Him back to Pilate (Lk 23:11).

🔹 8:00 AM – Second Appearance Before Pilate

• Pilate tries to release Him, but the crowd chooses Barabbas (Jn 18:40).
• Scourging and crowning with thorns (Jn 19:1-3).
• “Ecce Homo” (Jn 19:5). The mob shouts, “Crucify Him!”

Noon – The Way of the Cross

🔹 9:00 AM – Sentencing and Via Crucis

• Pilate washes his hands (Mt 27:24). Jesus carries the Cross.
• Key encounters:
  • The Virgin Mary (Stabat Mater).
  • Veronica wipes His face.
  • Simon of Cyrene helps carry the Cross (Mk 15:21).
  • Women of Jerusalem weep (Lk 23:28).

Crucifixion and Death

🔹 12:00 PM (Sixth Hour) – Nailed to the Cross

• Crucified between two thieves (Lk 23:33).
• Seven Last Words:
  1. “Father, forgive them” (Lk 23:34).
  2. “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43).
  3. “Woman, behold your son” (Jn 19:26-27).
  4. “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mt 27:46).
  5. “I thirst” (Jn 19:28).
  6. “It is finished” (Jn 19:30).
  7. “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit” (Lk 23:46).

🔹 3:00 PM (Ninth Hour) – Death of the Savior

• Final cry and yielding of His spirit (Mk 15:37).
• Miraculous signs:
  • Darkness over the land (Mt 27:45).
  • Temple veil torn (Mk 15:38).
  • Earthquake and saints rising (Mt 27:51-53).
• Centurion’s confession: “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mk 15:39).

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Good Friday Afternoon – The Burial

🔹 4:00 PM – Descent from the Cross

• Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take down His body (Jn 19:38-39).
• Piety: The Virgin Mary receives her dead Son (The Pietà).

🔹 5:30 PM – Burial

• Anointed with myrrh and aloes, wrapped in a clean shroud (Jn 19:40).
• Placed in a new tomb (Mt 27:60).
• Sacred silence: Holy Saturday begins.

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Conclusion: Love to the End

This Clock of the Passion is not merely a timeline—it is an invitation to immerse ourselves in the mystery of Love that “loved to the end” (Jn 13:1). Every wound, every word, every silence of Christ calls us to conversion and total surrender.

For meditation:

• “What more could I have done for you that I have not done?” (Is 5:4).
• “By Your holy wounds, save us, O Lord.”

As we walk through these holy hours, may our hearts be united to His, and may we learn to love as He loved us. O Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis! 🌿✝️