Black Sunday – Judica dies Solis

Father Pothin’s Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Lent

The Gospel. St. John viii. 46.

In English, “ Judica Sunday,” is the name given to the fifth Sunday of Lent, and derived from the first words of the Introit of that day: “Judica me, Deus” — “Judge me, O God” (Psalm 42). This Sunday is also called Passion Sunday because from this day the Church occupies herself exclusively with the contemplation of the passion and death of Christ. In some countries this day is also called “Black Sunday,” from the custom of veiling the crosses and statues in the church, the pictures of Christ crucified are covered today in memory of his having hidden Himself from the Jews until His entrance into Jerusalem, no longer showing Himself in public.

Lent leads into Passiontide and it is in the Passion of Jesus that all the lessons of Lent are summed up. He reigns and triumphs from the tree. It’s a strange kingship, surely, and one which the world finds incomprehensible. Pharisees didn’t know what to make of it: “Art thou greater than Abraham?” they asked. We do ask Him the same in the midst of our sufferings: Art thou really my Savior? Art thou a King? Pray the Holy Ghost to teach us about the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

–Fr Pothin