Good Friday

I wonder if you have been to a Good Friday service today? I have, and find it a very moving service. The main aspect, perhaps, is the Veneration of the Cross, where the congregation process forward to kiss the feet of Jesus on the cross.

The Good Friday service, in the Catholic Church, is the middle part of one Mass, which begins on Thursday and ends on Saturday. The Mass begins on Thursday, and during that service there is the washing of the feet and the Lord's Supper is commemorated through the Eucharistic prayer and the Mass. That service has no Concluding Rite, and the congregation leave in silence. On Friday, there is no opening entrance hymn. The service begins in silence, moves almost immediately into the reading of the Passion narrative, and finishes in silence after communion (there is no Eucharistic prayer ... the Sacrament has been kept from Thursday). The congregation walks out in silence, and will come together tomorrow again at the Saturday Vigil to light the fire that will light the Paschal candle. More of that tomorrow, though!

For more information about Good Friday, you could read the BBC Religion & Ethics website.