Christ Taken Prisoner (scene 7), Duccio di Buoninsegna 1308-11

“THE LAST HOURS OF JESUS” (Sheed and Ward, 1960) by the Rev. Ralph Gorman, C.P. provides many interesting historical details connected with Christ’s Passion, from his seizure in the Garden of Gethsemane to his trial to his burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

“It has been my effort to tell the story of the last hours of Jesus accurately and in a manner that is interesting and intelligible to the ordinary reader,” Fr. Gorman wrote. He largely succeeded.

The Jewish rejection of Jesus; the dilemma faced by the Roman procurator, who was already in trouble with his superiors for inciting rebellion, and many other events of that fateful week are difficult to fathom without some context. It’s easy to get distracted and forget that this is the most sacred and profound week of the year. If you would like to know more about figures such as Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas and Judas, I recommend his book.

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