Seven Last Words of Christ

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE CROSS (The 7 last words of Jesus Christ on Calvary as recorded by the Four Gospels provided here in English and Latin)   Click here to listen or download the PodCast of the Seven Last Words of Christ.         The Seven Last "Words" of Jesus Christ from the cross are actually 7 short phrases that Jesus uttered on Calvary that serve as an excellent holy week meditation.  To find all of the seven last words of Jesus Christ, one must read all the gospels since none of the evangelists records all 7 last words.  The sayings would have been originally uttered by Jesus in the Aramaic language, but only one of the last seven words of Jesus is preserved for us in the original Aramaic, namely "Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani" or "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me," which is actually a direct quote of the opening verse of Psalm 22.  The rest of the seven last words of Jesus  are found in the gospels after having been translated into Greek by the four Evangelists.  We reproduce them here in Latin as well as English, since the Latin version of the Seven Last Words of Christ has been used so extensively in sacred music, notably by composers such as Franz Josef Hayden.  For centuries these seven last words of Jesus have been also used as meditation points for spiritual conferences, retreats, and Lenten missions.  They are particularly wonderful to use for prayer during Holy Week, especially on Good Friday.  For more food for prayer during Lent and Holy Week, visit the Lenten/Holy Week on-line resource library of the Crossroads Initiative.   1.    "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."  Lk. 23: 34  Pater, dimitte illis, quia nesciunt, quid faciunt.   2.   "This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise."  Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso.  Lk. 23: 43   3.   "Woman, behold thy son."  Mulier, ecce filius tuus.  Jn. 19: 26-7   4.   "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"  Deus meus, Deus meus, utquid dereliquisti me?  Mk. 15: 34 (Mt. 27: 46)   5.   "I thirst."  Sitio.  Jn. 19: 28.   6.   "It is finished."  Consummatum est.  Jn 19: 30   7.   "Into thine hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."  In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.  Lk. 23:46   Click here to download and print the Seven Last Words of Christ!   For more Catholic resources to feed your faith, visit the Crossroads Initiative Homepage.   To sign up for our free weekly e-mail with Dr. D'Ambrosio's commentary on the Sunday readings, liturgical feasts, updates on where Dr. D will be speaking, a chance to WIN a FREE CD and MORE, CLICK HERE!   For more Lenten readings by the Early Church Fathers, click here to visit the Library Page and for the very practical artilce "40 Ways to Get the Most out of Lent," click here.  Click on the following links for some more wonderful spiritual exercises for Holy Week and Good Friday and the sacred Triduum. I Believe - The Heart of Catholic Faith First given as a Lenten retreat, this is an awesome 4 session program to revitalize your faith and prepare you for the joy of Easter. Great for individuals or families or small groups. The workbook is a treasure of discussion questions, devotions and spiritual exercises that can serve as an easy-to-follow roadmap through the Lent or Holy Week that will break you out of stale patterns and enrich both your prayer and your understanding of the central truths of the Catholic faith, empowering you to share that faith with others.   Exploring the Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching & Practice Exploring the Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice by Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio is an accessible, affordable Roman Catholic Book--perfect gift for anyone!! -- the inactive Catholic, the Sunday Catholic wanting to know more, Protestants who want to know why Catholics do what they do.     The Meaning of the Passion The Passion of the Christ, the movie and the events it depicts - As we reflect on the Seven Last Words of Christ during Holy Week, we can't help but ask why it had to happen this way?  Wasn't there another way? This talk is a perfect complement to the film and The Guide to the Passion and will help you get the most out of the movie, recently rereleased, and the most out of the season.  45 minutes, followed by questions and answers. Retail - $9.00   A Guide to the Passion of The Christ -   This guide, with 100 questions and answers, is a perfect resource for Holy Week.  It will help you understand Mel Gibson's famous  movie is not just another extraordinary Hollywood production—rather, it’s a personal call for each of us to encounter the person of Jesus Christ. Co-Authored by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D. it answers 100 questions about Mel Gibson's Passion of Christ. Priced to purchase in bulk to share with your friends and parish! Call today for delivery by Easter! 1 for $6.95