Jesus was crucified at Noon on a Friday, the day of weekly preparation for the Sabbath, and during Passover week. (John 19: 44)

The Gospel of John reveals that standing at the foot of the Cross were Jesus’ mother, Mary; Mary, the wife of Clopas; and Mary Magdalene. John, who was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, was also at the foot of the Cross. (John 19: 25-27)

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke reveal that a group of women who had followed Jesus from Galilee stood at a distance from the Cross and observed all that happened. (Matthew 27: 55, Mark 15: 41, Luke 23: 49)

Jesus died at 3 p.m., the hour of great Mercy for the world. (John 19: 44)

The Gospels indicate that our world shuddered when Jesus’ Spirit and Light departed. For some time, the land was covered in darkness:

From the Gospel of Matthew: “And behold, the curtain of the temple was town in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27: 51)

From the Gospel of Mark: “And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” (Mark 15: 38)

From the Gospel of Luke: “There was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” (Luke 23: 44-45)

From the Gospel of John: “The sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” (John 19: 45)

After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man who was secretly a disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus for burial. Pilate agreed; so Joseph, along with Nicodemus, who had also first come to Jesus secretly as a disciple, prepared Jesus’ body and buried Him in a new tomb.

And then all of Creation waited in silence.

Centuries later, the Lord Jesus said to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska:

“At three o’clock, implore [or beg for] My mercy, especially for sinners, and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself [in contemplation of] My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world.1”

1Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul (Massachusetts: Marian Press, 2020), Verse 1320, page 474.