My Mother use to make us children sit still and quiet for one hour beginning around 3 Oclock (when Jesus died on the cross) on Good Friday, why was that?
You’ve essentially answered your own question when you stated that “3 o’clock” was “when Jesus died on the Cross.” It really is as simple as that. In observing the hour that Jesus is said to have died on the cross, your mother was simply upholding and practicing a long-held Good Friday devotion. This belief is based on the following Scripture verses: “At three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'” (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46). Thus it has long been a Good Friday tradition among many Christians (and not only Catholics by the way) to mark the hour of Jesus’ death by observing a period of silent prayer and meditation. While it can certainly be less, traditionally this period lasts up to an hour- and sometimes even longer. In fact, some Catholics include in their observance the three hours leading up to Jesus’ death as well (i.e., noon to 3 p.m.). In fact, many will follow this “3 O’clock”
