Friday of the Passion of the Lord

The meaning of the celebration:

+ According to ancient tradition, no Masses are celebrated on Good Friday. Instead, the faithful gather to re-tell the story of the Passion of Jesus, to venerate the Cross, and to receive Holy Communion (using hosts consecrated during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday).

+ The liturgy of Good Friday begins and ends in silence, signifying that it is part of one great celebration that extends from the end of the Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper to the beginning of the Easter Vigil on Saturday night.

+ The Church invites us to reflect not only on the suffering and death of Jesus on this day, but to celebrate the Cross as the Tree of Life and the sign of our salvation.

For prayer and reflection:

We adore your Cross, O Lord,
we praise and glorify your holy Resurrection,
for behold, because of the wood of a tree
joy has come to the whole world.

—from the Liturgy for Friday of the Passion of the Lord

Prayer

Remember your mercies, O Lord,
and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants,
for whom Christ your Son,
by the shedding of his Blood,
established the Paschal Mystery.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Collect for Good Friday)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.