Good Friday in the Avalonian Catholic Church

The Suff'ring Stag

Copyright 2002 Jon Ryner

1) He crossed the vast abyss of time,
the dark lab'rinth devoid of rhyme.
The Logos Lord sailed from his home:
The Light unknown by shadows shone.

2) He was enmeshed in mortal flesh;
Our lost lives he came to wrest.
The Cosmic Christ from heav'n came down
and forsook his lofty renown.

3) He danced down worlds to our dim shore.
He glanced with love on all the poor.
With sweet lips bright blessings he spoke.
The grip of Satan's pow'r he broke.

4) His Sacred Heart's circled by thorns.
His love fills nights and misty morns:
Its pow'r is cried by ev'ry stone.
His care for us he well has rown.

5) The White Hart of the woods was pierced,
assailed by wicked men most fierce.
My aching soul in longing pines
for the Suff'ring Stag of Seven Tines.

The Divine Liturgy

One of the more interesting and innovative traditions of the ACC is found on Good Friday when the long litany, Paean to the Sweet Wood of the Tree of Life is sung. In this englyn, the various attributes of the sacred Celtic Druidic trees are imparted to the Tree of Life, a fitting prelude to our version of "the creeping of the cross"!

Go to the next page about the Forty Hour Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament