Woman, behold, your son.
Behold, your mother.

For we judge people’s virtue not by their sex but by their character, and we hold those to be worthy of the highest glory who have renounced both rank and wealth. It was for this reason that Jesus loved the Evangelist John more than the other disciples. For John was of noble birth and known to the high priest, yet he was so little intimidated by the plotting of the Jews that he introduced Peter into his court and was the only one of the apostles bold enough to take his stand before the cross. For it was he who took the Savior’s parent to his own home. It was the virgin son who received the virgin mother as a legacy from the Lord (St. Jerome).

He handed over the spirit.

Could Life himself die unless he chose to? Could anyone take life from its author against his will? He himself declared, “I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it up again; no one takes it from me. “ To die, therefore, was his own choice. Immortal though he was, he allowed himself to be put to death.

Blood and Water Flowed Out

At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious king,
Who has washed us in the tide
Flowing from his pierced side.

Praise we him whose love divine
Gives the guests his blood for wine,
Gives his body for the feast,
Love the victim, love the priest.

Where the Pascal blood is poured,
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.

Christ, the Lamb whose blood was shed,
Pascal victim, Pascal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.

Mighty victim from the sky,
Powers of hell beneath you lie;
Death is conquered in the fight;
You have brought us life and light.
Alleluia!

(Ambrosian Hymn Writer)