Good Friday

Good Friday

Good Friday is the most solemn day of the liturgical year. It is so solemn a day that there is NO Mass celebrated on Good Friday. On Good Friday we commemorate the day on which Jesus is condemned to death by Pilate and crucified. It is also a day of fasting and abstinence.

Why is it “Good” Friday? Because of the effects of the events that occurred. By Jesus’ obedience to and His trust in the Father He overcame the effects of sin of and achieved our salvation.

On Good Friday the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, once called the Mass of the Consecrated, occurs. It is a service that resembles the Mass but the Eucharist that was consecrated on Holy Thursday is distributed.

The Veneration of the Cross is a ceremony during which a person pays respect to the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Usually this is done during Good Friday services; usually people perform the veneration of the cross individually by coming forward and, while kneeling, kiss the foot of the cross.

SEE: Mark 15; Matthew 27; Luke 23; John 18:28-19:1-42. (New American Bible)