Good Friday

 

GOOD FRIDAY 

The Good Friday Liturgy is called the Mass of the Presanctified and consists of 4 parts:  Lessons and the Passion, Great Intercessions, Veneration of the Cross and Communion.   The candles on the altar are of unbleached beeswax in simple candlesticks.  The only times these candles are used are in Requiem Masses.  They denote death and mourning.  This is what greets you when you enter the church. 

1.      Lessons and the reading of the Passion

a.      Priest enters in black chasuble which he wears until the unveiling of the cross

b.     Lessons are read from the Epistle side

c.      Reading of the Gospel is distinct from the Passion

d.     Passion and Gospel are read from the Gospel side

                                                              i.      Incense after the Passion and before Gospel

                                                            ii.      Chant tone changes when singing the Gospel

2.      Great Intercessions:

a.      Chanted on the Epistle side

b.      In the prayer for the Jews, we do not genuflect. 

                                                              i.      This is because they mocked Our Lord by genuflecting to Him in His Passion

3.      Veneration of the Cross:  The entire liturgy is focused on the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.

a.      Celebrant takes off his chasuble and only has black stole crossed over the surplice

b.     The veiled crucifix on the altar since last evening has been waiting for this moment of unveiling----actually the whole 2 weeks of Passiontide.

c.      Once unveiled, all other crucifixes in the church are uncovered.

d.     “Creeping to the Cross”---Everyone takes off their shoes and makes 3 genuflections before venerating the cross---not just the priests and altar boys.

e.      The crucifix is placed on a cushion on the floor.  In venerating it, you must kneel and bow all the way down to the floor.  (This is an incredibly moving experience for one who has never done this before!)

4.      Communion: 

a.      Celebrant puts the black chasuble back on

b.     A full triumphal procession with Thurifer, Crucifer, Acolytes and Sacred Ministers moves from the Altar of Repose to the Main Altar while singing the hymn Vexilla Regis to bring the Blessed Sacrament back to the main altar.

c.      Only the priest receives holy communion.  There is only one host in the chalice from last evening.

d.     Once the host is consumed, the entire church is filled with emptiness for Our Lord is truly gone and the tabernacle is empty.

e.      Good Friday ends very quietly.