Good Friday

The origin of Good Friday Liturgy on Good Friday

Reading Veneration of the cross Reception of the Communion

The Way of the Cross Conclusion

Easter Triduum

Holy week is at the heart of the Christian experience.

We discover once more who we are and who we belong to.

We learn the meaning of life in professing our baptism faith once again.

Easter Triduum

The keynote for this week is to celebrate the salvation of the human race through the victory of Jesus Christ.

Easter Triduum : the last three days of Holy Week: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Easter Triduum In the first century the Church celebrated

the Passover mystery in one day. Gradually the Church separated it into

three days: table service on Holy Thursday the wood of the cross on Good Friday the vigil at the tomb on Holy Saturday, plus

Easter Sunday It did not separate the whole mystery

but focused on each in turn.

Good Friday --Easter Triduum

Celebrating the Lord’s Passover under the image of his life-giving on the cross.

No Mass celebrated today. Fasting today.

Good Friday

Completely bare altar. Not a funeral for Jesus, but

Christ triumphant through his death.

It is a glorious passion

Liturgy Follows the pattern of the Jewish

liturgyof the synagogue.

The liturgy is in the ancient form: listening to the Word, veneration of the cross, and reception of Communion

reserved from Holy Thursday. Suggested time for celebrating the

liturgy is about 3 p.m.

Reading

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Psalm 31 Hebrews 4:14 – 16; 5:7 – 9John 18:1 - 19:42

First Reading-- Isaiah 52:13-53:12

The fourth song of “Servant of God”. The text vividly portrayed the

Servant’s suffering and ignominy. Christ was innocent; his death was

vicarious and redemptive and avails for all the human race.

Responsorial Psalm -- Psalm 31

Response to the proclamation of Isaiah’s Christ.

Expresses psalmist’s confidence in God.

A thanksgiving song: “to trust in the Lord is the source of courage.”

Second Reading-- Hebrews 4:14 – 16; 5:7 – 9

Jesus as High Priest. Jesus’ divinity and humanity. Jesus experienced human

suffering.

Gospel-- John 18:1 -

19:42

Narrative of Jesus’ passion is short and less anecdotal compared with Synoptics.

significant theology: Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will. He is the master of his own fate.

Liturgy -- Intercessions

Part of the Roman Mass liturgy from ancient times.

Different form in the East to West. There are ten intentions. theological meaning: the faithful are

transformed after listening the Word of God.

It also shows the Church’s care for the individual needs of her members

Veneration of the cross

Egeria, Spanish Lady, the fourth century traveller, brought this practice to Spain.

Roman ritual of veneration is similar to what Egeria saw, but it came directly from Jerusalem.

Veneration of the cross

Only one cross should be used except for some pastoral reasons.

The wooden cross should not carry a corpus of the dead Christ.

The acclamation should clearly focus on the “wood” of the cross.

Receiving the Communion

The reception of Communion on Good Friday was not practised at Rome until seventh century.

The whole Church fasted as the disciples did and with the whole of creation’s hunger for the salvation.

Receiving the Communion

In the Roman liturgy around the ninth century people received Communion.

Two species received in Communion: consecrated bread and consecrated

wine

Receiving Communion

The celebrant alone received Communion at Mass until the reform of the liturgy in 1955.

Some say the reception of Communion distracts from the theme of Good Friday which is centred on the wood of the cross.

The Way of Cross

There are fourteen stations. Invented after the tenth century. It commemorates Jesus’ passion in

Jerusalem. Mainly based on the gospel

accounts and on local traditions in Jerusalem.

The Way of Cross

Today’s Way of Cross evolved slowly out veneration of the holy places in Jerusalem.

From eleventh century great saints and mystics promoted veneration of the suffering and death of Jesus.

The Way of Cross

In 1991 a new Way of the Cross was introduced based totally on the gospel accounts of the Passion of Jesus.

It begins with Last Supper and ends with the resurrection of Jesus.

Conclusion

Good Friday is a special day for celebrating God’s salvation when Jesus died on the cross.

It is focussed on the “wood” of the cross.