While it can’t replace the communal experience of seeing the faithful approach and adore the cross, during COVID many Catholic entities created ways for the faithful to adore the cross at home. If you can’t get to church on Good Friday (which is not a Holy Day of obligation), you can still follow practices such as these from the Diocese of Corpus Christi that were adapted from The Catholic Company to give people a part of the experience at home. Begin by placing your most beautiful crucifix in a place of honor and light some candles by it. Kneel before the crucifix and spend time in prayer by thanking Jesus for his sacrifice, making an act of contrition, and saying The Prayer Before the Crucifix. Finally, kiss the crucifix.
For the Jubilee Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope, dioceses across the world have been charged with designating local pilgrimage sites for those who can’t get to Rome. Three local sites – all listed on the National Register of Historic Places – have been designated in the Diocese of Charlotte: St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville; Mary, Help of Christians Basilica at Belmont Abbey in Belmont; and St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. Before you venture out to one of them, how should you prepare for a pilgrimage? Will Peterson, founder and president of Modern Catholic Pilgrim, recently suggested several ways Catholics can deepen their local pilgrimage experience.