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 Lords 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 liturgy
of 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 9

John 18:1 - 19:42

 First Reading
-- Isaiah 52:13-53:12
The fourth song of Servant of God.
The text vividly portrayed the Servants
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 Isai
ahs Christ.
Expresses psalmists 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 Fathers 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 Churchs 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
creations 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
Todays 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 Gods salvation when Jesus
died on the cross.
It is focussed on the wood of the
cross.