School of love in the heart of Lent
With Ash Wednesday, we have crossed the holy threshold of Lent, that powerful time which the Church, from the earliest centuries, understood as a path of purification, enlightenment, and inner renewal. The Fathers of the Church spoke of these forty days as a “second baptism,” a spiritual journey that leads the believer back to the heart of the Gospel:Christ’s total self-giving out of love.
The liturgy invites us to walk with Jesus toward Jerusalem, the place where filial obedience will reach its fullness on the cross. It is not simply a matter of remembering a historical event, but of entering sacramentally into the Paschal Mystery, allowing grace to transform our wounds and make us sharers in the victory of the Risen Lord.
In keeping with this spiritual journey, Pope Leo XIV's Lenten message for 2026, centered on hope and renewal, calls us to an authentic conversion that translates into concrete charity. The Pope insists that the Eucharist cannot remain an isolated act of worship, but must become a life given in service, genuine care for the poor, and a commitment to human dignity. “God does not need golden vessels, but golden souls,” an expression that encapsulates the prophetic heart of this season.
Lent, then, is a call to “disarm our hearts,” to rid ourselves of the visible or silent violence that dwells within us, so that we may become artisans of peace. Christian hope is not abstract; it becomes concrete when it translates into forgiveness, justice, solidarity, and a consistent Eucharistic life.
In this spiritual and ecclesial context, contemplating the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross is not an isolated devotional exercise, but a true school of discipleship.
The Cross: Supreme Chair of the Master
In the Christian tradition, the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross have been considered the Redeemer's spiritual testament. They are not improvised phrases uttered in the midst of suffering, but rather the luminous synthesis of his entire life and teachings. Each word reveals the heart of the Son and his filial relationship with the Father, as well as his boundless love for humanity. From a biblical perspective, these expressions are recorded in the four Gospels. Each evangelist emphasizes different nuances, but together they allow us to contemplate a theological mosaic of extraordinary depth.
The cross, which humanly is a sign of failure, becomes the pulpit from which Christ teaches love taken to the extreme (cf. Jn 13:1). There the central mystery of our faith is revealed: a God who does not save from a distance, but from self-giving.
Words that reveal the heart of the Gospel
The Seven Last Words are not merely the end of a life; they are the fullness of an existence consistent with the announced Kingdom.
1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34).
The first word is forgiveness. Jesus does not respond to violence with violence. Here, the promise of the Sermon on the Mount is fulfilled: to love one's enemies. The cross inaugurates a new logic, that of love that breaks the cycle of hatred. In times marked by polarization and aggression, this word is both medicine and challenge.
2. “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43).
To the repentant thief, Jesus offers communion and hope. Salvation is not an accumulated merit, but a gift received with humility. Even at the last moment, mercy remains open. This message is a proclamation of hope for those who feel distant or unworthy.
3. “Woman, here is your son… Here is your mother” (Jn 19:26-27).
From the cross a new family is born. Mary is given as Mother to humanity, represented by the beloved disciple. The Church sees here the foundation of Mary's spiritual motherhood. The Christian community is not a cold structure; it is a family born from the open side of Christ.
4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46).
Jesus takes up the cry of Psalm 22. It is not despair, but prayer in the midst of darkness. He bears the experience of human abandonment to redeem it from within. This word embraces all our silences, our nights, our deserts.
5. “I thirst” (Jn 19:28).
It doesn't just express a physical need; it reveals the seed of love, of faith, of response. It is the dwelling place of the Good Shepherd who seeks his sheep. It is also an invitation: what are we thirsting for? What are we truly seeking?
6. “It is finished” (Jn 19:30).
It is not resignation, but fulfillment. Scripture is fulfilled, the mission is accomplished, loving obedience to the Father is fulfilled. In this word is concentrated the faithfulness of Christ, who does not shrink from suffering.
7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46).
The final word is trusting surrender. Jesus dies as he lived: in filial relationship with the Father. Death is not defeat, but trusting surrender. The cross becomes a bridge to life.
A reading illuminated by the Magisterium
The book, “The Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross,” written by Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, offers a profound biblical and theological meditation on these final words of the Lord. Each word is developed in light of Sacred Scripture and in dialogue with the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spesof the Second Vatican Council, which reminds us that “the mystery of man is only truly revealed in the mystery of the Incarnate Word” (GS 22).
On the cross, God is revealed, but so too is humanity, called to communion. Human dignity, justice, suffering, hope, social life, and the vocation to love find in these words a solid and luminous foundation.
The text is not limited to theoretical reflection; it proposes a concrete spiritual path. It invites us to allow ourselves to be challenged, to confront our own lives with the logic of the cross, to move from religious sentimentality to genuine conversion.
According to liturgical and pastoral practices
In the Good Friday liturgy, the Church proclaims the Lord's Passion and venerates the cross in reverent silence. The Seven Last Words have inspired Lenten preaching, popular piety, and communal meditation for centuries. They are part of the Church's spiritual heritage.
Reflecting on them in community—in parishes, youth groups, families, religious communities—can become a true spiritual retreat. Each word can illuminate a specific dimension of life.
- Forgiveness in family relationships.
- Hope for those going through the crisis.
- Reception in divided communities.
- Confidence in the midst of the trial.
- The commitment to the poor who are “thirsty”.
Lent is a propitious time for this profound contemplation. External practices are not enough; the Lord seeks a renewed heart.
A specific call
As Pauline Sisters, called to proclaim the Gospel using today's means, we wish to offer this book as a valuable tool for experiencing this liturgical season intensely. It is not merely a text to read; it is a journey for prayer, meditation, and life transformation.
In a world that races on, contemplating the words of a crucified man might seem countercultural. And yet, therein lies the power that renews history. From the cross springs a hope that does not disappoint.
The Seven Last Words of Jesus do not belong to the past. They continue to resonate today. They call us to be reconciled men and women, builders of peace, witnesses of a hope made flesh in active charity.
Entering into this mystery during Lent means allowing crucified love to transform us from within.For only those who allow themselves to be touched by the cross can joyfully proclaim the light of the Resurrection.
May this holy time find us on our knees before the crucified one, but also standing, ready to live what He pronounced with His last strength: a life surrendered, trusting and fully fulfilled in love.
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