Good Friday, also known as the Friday of the Passion of the Lord, is the second day of the Sacred Paschal Triduum the three most solemn days of the Church’s liturgical year. It is the day when the Church commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Stripped of glory and filled with solemn silence, this day invites us to enter into the mystery of the Cross: the supreme act of love and sacrifice by which our redemption was won. There is no celebration of the Holy Mass today. Instead, we gather in mourning and awe, contemplating the price of our salvation. From the echo of Jesus’ final words to the darkness that fell over the earth, Good Friday stands as a stark reminder of the depth of divine mercy and the immensity of Christ’s love. As we kneel before the Cross, may we not only grieve the cost of our sin, but also marvel at the hope born from Christ’s Passion.

A Brief Historical Context:
The name “Good Friday” might seem paradoxical, considering the sorrow and suffering of the day. Yet, within the sorrow lies the very essence of our salvation. Good Friday recalls the darkest, yet most redemptive day in human history. After the Last Supper, Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and brought before religious leaders and eventually the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Though finding no fault in Him, Pilate, swayed by the crowd, sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion.

The journey to Golgotha also called Calvary was brutal. Jesus was mocked, scourged, crowned with thorns, and forced to carry His Cross through the streets of Jerusalem. There, outside the city walls, He was nailed to the Cross, raised between two criminals, and left to die. At 3 o’clock, with a final cry “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46) Jesus breathed His last. At that hour, Christians around the world observe a moment of prayerful silence, marking the supreme sacrifice by which our salvation was won.

Why Good Friday Matters:
Good Friday is not merely about the death of an innocent man it is about the death of the Innocent One, the Son of God, who bore the weight of humanity’s sin. Christians believe that through His suffering and death, Jesus made atonement for the sins of the world. This was the ultimate act of love: selfless, sacrificial, and freely given.

But the story does not end here. Good Friday is the necessary doorway to Easter. Without the Cross, there would be no Resurrection. Without the sorrow of Friday, the joy of Sunday would not be possible. In the bleakness of this day lies the seed of eternal life.

Why Call It “Good”?
The name “Good Friday” may seem contradictory—how can a day of brutal execution be called good? The term may derive from “God’s Friday,” or from the old meaning of “good” as “holy.” Others believe it points to the good that came from the Cross: the salvation of souls, the forgiveness of sins, and the hope of eternal life.

In other parts of the world, the day is named differently but with similar reverence: “Holy Friday” in Latin nations, “Great Friday” among the Slavs and Hungarians, “Friday of Mourning” in Germany, and “Long Friday” in Norway. All point to the solemnity and sacredness of this day.

Sacred Rituals and Traditions:
Good Friday is one of the most solemn days in the Church’s liturgical calendar. No Mass is celebrated today the only day of the year this occurs. The altar is stripped bare, and the Tabernacle is empty, reflecting the absence of Christ. The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, often referred to as the Mass of the Presanctified (though it is not a Mass), typically takes place at 3:00 p.m.

This liturgy has three parts:

Liturgy of the Word – including the reading of the Passion according to John. The General Intercessions conclude the Liturgy of the Word. The ten intercessions cover these areas: For the Church; For the Pope; For the clergy and laity of the Church; For those preparing for baptism; For the unity of Christians; For the Jewish people; For those who do not believe in Christ; For those who do not believe in God; For all in public office; For those in special need.

Veneration of the Cross – where the faithful approach and reverence the Cross. A cross, either veiled or unveiled, is processed through the Church, and then venerated by the congregation. We joyfully venerate and kiss the wooden cross “on which hung the Savior of the world.” During this time the “Reproaches” are usually sung or recited.

Holy Communion – distributed from hosts consecrated the previous day. Holy Communion, concludes the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. The altar is covered with a cloth and the ciboriums containing the Blessed Sacrament are brought to the altar from the place of reposition. The Our Father and the Ecce Agnus Dei (“This is the Lamb of God”) are recited. The congregation receives Holy Communion, there is a “Prayer After Communion,” and then a “Prayer Over the People,” and everyone departs in silence.

Priests and deacons wear red or black vestments, and the service begins in silence, with them prostrating before the bare altar in a gesture of deep mourning and humility.

Throughout the world, Christians mark the day with fasting, prayer, the Stations of the Cross, silence, and acts of penance. It is a day of deep reflection, both personal and communal.

Why Good Friday Still Matters:
Though these events took place over two thousand years ago, their relevance remains urgent and profound. Good Friday calls us to face the darkness within ourselves and the world. It asks us to examine our lives through the lens of sacrifice, humility, mercy, and forgiveness. In an age marked by division and self-interest, the Cross challenges us to love radically, even when it hurts.

Jesus’ Passion reveals the depth of human cruelty, but more importantly, the immeasurable depth of divine love. It reminds us that God is not distant from our suffering—He entered into it fully and transformed it from within.

The Road to Easter:
Good Friday is not the end. It is the stillness before the dawn. The tomb will not remain sealed. As we await the joy of Easter, we carry the sorrow of this day in our hearts, allowing it to shape us into people of greater compassion, faith, and hope.

Good Friday is a day of paradox: darkness and light, death and life, sorrow and hope. Through the wounds of Christ, the world is healed. Through His Cross, we are made new. May we never grow indifferent to this mystery. Let us kneel at the foot of the Cross, not in despair, but in awe because love like this changes everything.

PRAYER: My suffering and sacrificial Lord, You have sanctified this day and endowed it with grace. As I commemorate Your saving sacrifice, draw me into this mystical act of love. Help me to remain prayerful and recollected throughout this day and into tomorrow. Invite me to stand before Your Cross and to gaze upon Your beaten and torn body. As I do, pour forth the abundance of Your mercy flowing from Your wounded side. Jesus, I trust in You. 🙏

On this Good Friday, may God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we commemorate the crucifixion and death of our Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. Amen🙏

GOOD FRIDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION | APRIL 18, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/18/good-friday-of-the-lords-passion/

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