Joshua Bennett
Good Friday is a day of mourning for Catholics and other Christians around the world, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The day is marked by fasting and prayer, with no Mass or celebration of the Eucharist. The Church is stripped of its ornaments, the altar is left bare, and the church bells are silenced. Catholics may take part in the Stations of the Cross devotion, a 14-step devotion that is often performed during Lent, especially on Good Friday. The liturgy of Good Friday includes the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Service of Communion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday before Easter |
| History | Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ |
| Synonyms | Great and Holy Friday, Great Friday, Friday of the Passion and Death of the Lord, Friday of the Passion of the Lord |
| Liturgy | Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross, Service of Communion |
| Devotion | Stations of the Cross, Acts of Reparation |
| Practices | Fasting, no Mass, no Eucharist, Liturgy, Communion, Baptism, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Church Bells are silent, Altars are left bare |
| Clothing | Clergy wears black |
| Hymns | Alleluia verses from Psalm 67 (68) |
| Other names | Pasch (passage) of the Crucifixion, Feria sexta in Parasceve, The Mass of the Presanctified |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Good Friday is the day on which Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a day of mourning, sorrow, penance, and fasting. The liturgical observance of this day of Christ's suffering, crucifixion, and death has been in existence since the earliest days of the Church.
The Good Friday liturgy has three parts: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Service of Communion. The Mass itself is the unbloody re-presentation of Jesus' death on the cross at Calvary. The priest, and the victim of the sacrifice, are the same person, Jesus, at both Calvary and every Mass.
The faithful take part in the Stations of the Cross devotion on Good Friday. The Stations of the Cross are commonly recited on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. Another devotional, the Acts of Reparation, may also be prayed. The liturgy of Good Friday is one of mourning. The church is stripped of its ornaments, the altar is left bare, and the door of the empty tabernacle stands open, as if in mourning. The clergy wear black, and the candles on the altar are unbleaked—they are yellow, not white, as for funerals.
In the predominantly Catholic Philippines, the day is commemorated with street processions, the Way of the Cross, the chanting of the Pasyón, Siete Palabras, or the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross, and performances of the Senákulo or Passion play. Some devotees engage in self-flagellation and even have themselves crucified as expressions of penance.
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There is no Mass or Eucharist celebration
Good Friday is a day of mourning for Catholics, who commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Church is stripped of its ornaments, the altar is left bare, and the door of the empty tabernacle is left open. The Church is in a state of mourning, and this is reflected in the liturgy of the day.
The liturgy of Good Friday is unique in the Church's calendar. It is the only day of the year when there is no Mass or celebration of the Eucharist. The Mass is the unbloody re-presentation of Jesus' death on the cross at Calvary, and so it is not appropriate for this day. Instead, the liturgy of Good Friday is a solemn celebration of the Passion of the Lord, and it includes the Veneration of the Cross. The priest enters in procession through the church with a veiled wooden cross, which he progressively uncovers as he advances toward the altar. Once there, the cross is placed in a prominent position, and each of the faithful is invited to honour it, usually by kissing it.
Communion may still be performed on Good Friday, but it is not considered a Mass because there is no consecration of the Holy Eucharist. Instead, the communion wafers have been consecrated and reserved the day before, on Holy Thursday. This is in keeping with the ancient tradition of Good Friday as a day of fasting and spiritual Communion, rather than the sacramental reception of the Eucharist.
In the Lutheran tradition, Good Friday was historically the most important religious holiday, and it was expected that people would abstain from all worldly works. In contrast to the Catholic tradition, the Lutheran Church often celebrated the Eucharist on Good Friday, and services were often accentuated by special music. However, more recently, Lutheran liturgical practice has moved towards fasting from the Eucharist on Good Friday, in line with the Catholic tradition.
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The Stations of the Cross devotion is often performed
Good Friday is a day of mourning for Catholics, who commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a solemn day, with no Mass or celebration of the Eucharist. Instead, the Church is stripped of its ornaments, the altar is left bare, and the door of the empty tabernacle stands open, as if in mourning.
The Stations of the Cross devotion is believed to have originated from Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem in the early Christian centuries. The devotion typically involves a series of visual reminders of Jesus' last hours, which are placed around the sanctuary of the church. These reminders may include a veiled wooden cross, which the priest uncovers as they enter the church in procession and carry it towards the altar. The cross is then placed in a prominent position, where it is venerated by the celebrants and the faithful, usually by kissing it.
During the Stations of the Cross devotion, participants may also engage in quiet meditation and prayer at each station, reflecting on the events of Jesus' death. The devotion may also involve specific prayers, such as the Act of Contrition and other prayers that focus on the passion of Christ.
The Stations of the Cross devotion is a powerful way for Catholics to connect with their faith and remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Good Friday.
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The church is stripped of ornaments, and the altar is left bare
Good Friday is a day of mourning for Catholics, who commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a solemn day marked by fasting, penance, and the absence of celebration. The liturgical observance of this day has existed since the earliest days of the Church.
The Church is stripped of its ornaments, and the altar is left bare. This tradition of stripping the altar dates back to the pre-Vatican II liturgy of Good Friday, when the clergy would wear black, and the candles on the altar would be unbleached, yellow instead of white, as is customary for funerals. The church is visually transformed to reflect the sombre nature of the day, with the removal of candlesticks and altar cloths at the end of the Mass of Maundy Thursday.
The altar is left bare as there is no Mass or celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday. The service that takes place, once called the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified, does not include the Canon or Eucharistic Prayer. Instead, Communion is provided from hosts that were consecrated and reserved the day before, on Holy Thursday.
The stripping of the altar is symbolic of the Church's desolation and mourning. It is a visual representation of the sorrow and solemnity of the day, as the Church remembers the sacrifice of Jesus Christ through his crucifixion. The removal of ornaments and the baring of the altar create a stark and austere atmosphere, reflecting the gravity of the day's events.
The liturgy of Good Friday is unique in the Church's calendar, and the bare altar serves as a powerful reminder of the day's significance. The Church is stripped of its usual adornments, emphasising the solemnity and sadness of the occasion. This physical act of removing decorations and leaving the altar bare is a tangible expression of the Church's grief and a way to connect with the emotional weight of the day.
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The day is marked by fasting and penance
Good Friday is a day of fasting and penance for Catholics. It is a solemn day of mourning, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The day is marked by several unique rituals and practices that reflect the sombre nature of the occasion.
One of the most notable aspects of Good Friday is the absence of Mass. Traditionally, there is no Mass celebrated on this day, which is unusual for the Catholic Church. This absence of Mass also means there is no consecration of the Holy Eucharist. Instead, a liturgy may be performed, and communion, if taken, comes from hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday.
Fasting is a significant part of Good Friday observances. In addition to refraining from food, Catholics may also abstain from meat, as is customary on Fridays throughout the year. This practice of abstinence is especially important during Lent, the period leading up to Good Friday and Easter.
The church itself takes on a mournful appearance. Altars are left bare, and the church is stripped of its ornaments, reflecting the sorrowful nature of the day. In some traditions, the clergy wear black vestments, further emphasising the atmosphere of mourning.
Another important ritual on Good Friday is the veneration of the cross. The faithful are invited to honour the cross, often by kissing it. This rite is central to the day's liturgy and has been a part of Good Friday observances since ancient times.
Good Friday is a day of reflection and penance, where Catholics unite themselves with Christ's sacrifice and contemplate their own spiritual state. It is a day without celebration, marked by fasting and solemn ceremonies, creating a muted atmosphere that is preserved until the Easter Vigil.
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Frequently asked questions
Good Friday is the day on which Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is the Friday before Easter and is a day of mourning.
Catholics celebrate Good Friday with street processions, the Way of the Cross, the chanting of the Pasyón, Siete Palabras or the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross, and performances of the Senákulo or Passion play. It is a day of fasting within the Church and Catholics traditionally do not attend Mass or celebrate the Eucharist.
The Good Friday liturgy has three parts: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Service of Communion. Communion wafers are consecrated on Holy Thursday and distributed on Good Friday.
