Today, more than ever, we celebrate our Salvation. Being the one true God and Lord, Jesus accepted suffering and death for us. Our souls, therefore, have no other response than love and gratitude. To better experience this day, we suggest... 5 attitudes, taken from the magazine "Jovens de Maria" (Young People of Mary), published by Editora Santuário:

1- Silence – It is time to stop and listen to the Lord's Sacrifice echoing in our hearts. This is not just any day, but the day of our Salvation. Let us ask forgiveness for the times we chose sin and not Jesus, for the good we did not do, and let us ask forgiveness in reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary..

2. Participate in the liturgy. – Go to the celebrations in your community or, if you can't, read the liturgy at home; you can do it alone, with your family, or by participating in the celebrations on TV or the internet. The important thing is not to neglect reading/meditating on the word of God.

3- Perform the Stations of the Cross – Learn and experience the 14 Stations of the Cross. It contributes to our pursuit of holiness and helps us understand more and more that our hearts belong to Him and nothing can separate us from Him.

4- Fast and do penance. – Practice a small act of self-denial (which doesn't mean starving yourself). Abstain from meat and sweets, and eat less on that day. To make this gesture even more profound, donate the proceeds from your actions to those most in need. 

“CIC 2043. (…) observe abstinence and fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (cf. Canon 1251). The fourth precept [of the Church] ‘'Observe abstinence and fast on the days determined by the Church'’ ensures the days of asceticism and penance that They prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us to gain control over our instincts and freedom of heart.” 

5- Say thank you – To give thanks for Christ's sacrifice, for all that He did for us. Everything we have and everything we are is thanks to Him. It is important to acknowledge this..

And if you would also like a prayer model to inspire you, we suggest this one from Pope Paul VI:

O Holy Spirit, give me a great heart,
open to your silent and powerful inspiring words,
closed to all petty ambitions,
oblivious to any despicable human competition,
deeply aware of the meaning of the Holy Church!
A big heart, eager to become
Like the heart of the Lord Jesus!
A big and strong heart to love everyone,
To serve all, to suffer for all!
A big and strong heart, to overcome all trials.,
All boredom, all weariness, all disillusionment, all offense!
A big and strong heart, steadfast even unto sacrifice, when necessary!
A heart whose happiness is to beat with the heart of Christ and to fulfill,
Humble, faithful, and steadfast in the will of the Father.
Amen.

Source: A12.com (written by Priscila Ferreira)