Grace Thompson
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a solemn day of mourning and reflection, and Christians often attend special church services and prayer vigils. Catholics aged 18 to 59 are required to fast, and everyone aged 14 and older is asked to abstain from meat. It is the only day in the liturgical year when the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not celebrated, and instead, the Church holds a solemn liturgical service. The liturgy consists of the reading of the Gospel Passion narrative, the adoration of the cross, and Communion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Falls between March 20 and April 23 |
| Other names | Great and Holy Friday, Great Friday, Feria sexta in Parasceve, Feria sexta in Passione et Morte Domini, Feria sexta in Passione Domini |
| Liturgy | Consists of the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Service of Communion |
| Fasting | Yes, Catholics aged 18-59 are required to fast, and everyone aged 14 and older is asked to abstain from meat |
| Music | Organ and other instruments are silent; the only music is unaccompanied chant |
| Vestments | Clergy wear black |
| Readings | From Scripture, especially the Passion narrative from the Gospel of John |
| Hymns | We adore your Cross, O Lord, Faithful Cross, Stabat Mater, or other suitable songs |
| Other practices | Stations of the Cross, Good Friday processions, tenebrae services |
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What You'll Learn
The Passion of Christ
Good Friday is a day of commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, observed annually by Christians. It is a day of sorrow, penance, and fasting, and no Mass is celebrated. The service on Good Friday is called the Mass of the Presanctified because Communion (in the form of bread) that was consecrated on Holy Thursday is distributed to the people. The liturgy of Good Friday consists of the reading of the Gospel Passion narrative, the adoration of the cross, and Communion.
The Passion narratives are proclaimed in full to vividly portray Christ's love for each person. This includes the events in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was confronted by those who came to arrest Him, to which He responded, "I am he" (John 18:4-6). This was an act of courageous initiative, as Jesus stated, "No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord" (John 10:18).
The observance of Good Friday and the Passion of Christ is an important part of Catholic tradition, reminding believers of Christ's sacrifice, love, and trust in God, even in the face of suffering and death.
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Fasting and abstinence
According to the Catholic Church, all individuals are obligated to perform penance for their sins, and these acts of penance can be both personal and corporeal. The tradition of fasting during Good Friday has its roots in the earliest days of Christianity, when the day was observed as a time of sorrow and penance. Over the centuries, the liturgical celebration of Good Friday has evolved, but fasting and abstinence have remained integral elements.
In the Latin Catholic Church, members aged 18 to 59 are expected to fast on Good Friday, while abstinence from meat is required for those aged 14 and above. Those who fast are permitted to eat one full meal and two smaller meals, with the combined intake not exceeding a single normal meal. Abstinence from meat is also observed on Fridays during Lent, with the exception of Solemnities.
The Eucharistic Fast is another important aspect of Catholic fasting practices. In the Latin Church, this involves refraining from all food and drink, except water or medicine, for one hour before receiving the Eucharist. This practice has undergone changes over the years, with Pope Pius XII reducing the fasting period to three hours in 1957, and Pope Paul VI further reducing it to one hour in 1964.
Good Friday is a day of abstinence, and Catholics are encouraged to refrain from eating meat, similar to the practice during Lent. In addition to fasting and abstinence, it is customary for Catholics to give something up during Lent, making personal sacrifices that extend beyond just food restrictions.
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Liturgy and Communion
The liturgy of Good Friday has three parts: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Service of Communion. The Liturgy of the Word includes readings from Scripture, especially the Passion narrative from the Gospel of John. During the Veneration of the Cross, the faithful come forward to venerate (touch or kiss) a crucifix, honouring the instrument of salvation. The personal adoration of the cross is an important feature of this celebration. The faithful may also be invited to spend a short time in prayer. The cross remains on the altar, with two or four candlesticks, until the Divine Liturgy on Great Saturday.
Communion, or the Holy Eucharist, is distributed during the Service of Communion. However, there is no consecration during the service, and the consecrated hosts are taken from the Mass of Holy Thursday. This is the only day in the liturgical year when the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not celebrated. Instead, the Church holds a solemn liturgical service, usually around 3:00 pm, the traditional hour of Jesus' death.
In the Byzantine Christian tradition, which includes Orthodox Christians and Greek-Catholics, this day is called "Great and Holy Friday", or simply "Great Friday". The Divine Liturgy (the sacrifice of bread and wine) is never celebrated on Great Friday, except when this day coincides with the Great Feast of the Annunciation on 25 March.
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Veneration of the Cross
The liturgy of Good Friday in the Catholic Church includes the reading of the Gospel Passion narrative, the Adoration of the Cross, and Communion. The faithful approach the crucifix, which is placed on a table in the chapel of the Crucifixion, and show their reverence by touching their brow, eyes, and lips to the cross. While doing so, the priest says the traditional words, "Behold, the Wood of the Cross." This act of veneration is not directed at the material image of the cross but rather at what it represents—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The specific form of the venerated cross on Good Friday has been a subject of discussion. Some sources suggest that the faithful should adore a crucifix, which is a cross with the figure of Christ crucified upon it. This is based on the tradition of carrying a crucifix in liturgical processions and the specific instructions in liturgical texts. However, the option for a plain cross in modern liturgy cannot be definitively ruled out.
The Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday holds great significance for Catholics, as it provides an opportunity to reflect on the passion and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is a solemn ceremony that forms an integral part of the Catholic liturgy during Holy Week, leading up to Easter, which is considered the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year.
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Processions and celebrations
Good Friday is a solemn day of mourning and reflection for Catholics, who often attend special church services and prayer vigils. It is the Friday before Easter and commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Good Friday is celebrated with processions in many countries and cultures. In these processions, people march with images and statues of Jesus or reenact his crucifixion. In Spain, for example, there is a Good Friday Procession of Nazarenos carrying a cross during Good Friday in Valladolid. In Malta and Gozo, there are also solemn celebrations in all churches together with processions in different villages. Some of the villages and towns in Malta where these processions take place include Birgu, Bormla, Għaxaq, Luqa, Mosta, Naxxar, Paola, Qormi, Rabat, Senglea, Valletta, Żebbuġ (Città Rohan), and Żejtun. In Gozo, processions occur in Nadur, Victoria (St. George and Cathedral), Xagħra, and Żebbuġ.
The liturgy of Good Friday consists of the reading of the Gospel Passion narrative, the adoration of the cross, and Communion. The 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 victim of the sacrifice, are the same person, Jesus, at both Calvary and every Mass. The faithful come forward to venerate (touch or kiss) a crucifix, honouring the instrument of salvation. The Eucharist is distributed, but consecrated hosts are taken from the Mass of Holy Thursday (there is no consecration during the service). The Good Friday liturgy appointed in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the worship book of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, specifies a liturgy similar to the revised Roman Catholic liturgy.
In Byzantine Christianity, which includes Orthodox Christians and Greek-Catholics, Good Friday is called "Great and Holy Friday", or simply "Great Friday". The clergy no longer wear the purple or red that is customary throughout Great Lent, but instead don black vestments. There is no "stripping of the altar" on Holy and Great Thursday as in the West; instead, all of the church hangings are changed to black, and will remain so until the Divine Liturgy on Great Saturday.
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Frequently asked questions
Good Friday is a Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Catholics observe Good Friday as a day of mourning and reflection. They attend church services and prayer vigils, and may fast or refrain from eating meat.
The Catholic Church does not celebrate Mass on Good Friday. Instead, a liturgy is performed, including the reading of the Gospel Passion narrative, the adoration of the cross, and Communion using hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday. The church bells are silent, and altars are left bare.
The adoration of the cross is a crucial aspect of Good Friday in the Catholic Church. The faithful venerate the cross, often kissing a veiled image or statue of the crucifix. This act symbolizes piety and devotion to Christ's sacrifice.
While Catholic celebrations focus on the Passion and crucifixion of Christ, other denominations may have different emphases. For example, Lutheran churches often celebrate a tenebrae service, conducted in candlelight, that includes passion accounts from the four gospels.
