Fr Paul does not give his usual Gospel Reflection today but instead shares what Good Friday is about and invites us to come and join in remembrance of this special and solemn day.

Explanation & History 

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It is the day on which the anniversary of the crucifixion of Jesus is kept. This day is a day of fast and abstinence. Along with Holy Saturday, these two days are the only two days of the year when mass is not celebrated.

This celebration was started back in the early days of Christianity. It had three parts:

1. The reading of the Passion

2. The Veneration of the Cross

3. Communion

It is relatively the same today.

The Good Friday Ceremony 

The ceremony of Good Friday consists of three parts:

The Liturgy of the Word

The priest simply comes into the church. He will lie down on the floor if he is able to and immerse himself in prayer. After this, he faces the people and prays the opening prayer. Then there is a first and second reading and this is followed by the reading of the Passion. This reading is taken from John’s Gospel, and it is read to remind all of Christ’s death for us. After the reading of the Passion there are the General Intercessions that pray for the many needs of the church and our world.

The Veneration of the Cross

This part of the ceremony originated in the veneration of the true relics of the cross in Jerusalem. It was then celebrated in Rome and then it gradually spread to other churches that had no relics. In this part of the ceremony a cross is brought to the front of the sanctuary by the priest and the people venerate it by genuflecting, touching or kissing it.

Communion

Communion, which had been kept at the Altar of Repose, from the mass which was held on Holy Thursday is then distributed and after a prayer all depart in silence.

Traditionally, too, on this day we also have the Stations of the Cross to which Fr Paul warmly invites everyone at 10am at St Agnes’ Church in Hay Street, Port Macquarie. Then at 3pm there will be the celebration of Good Friday at St Agnes’ Church, also at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Lake Cathie.

Come along and join our community as we celebrate this very solemn day when remember the crucifixion of Christ and all that he has done for us.