We should take an active part in the great drama and not be content to be mere spectators. We should regard ourselves as disciples gathered about the Master in the Upper Room, a master who serves us, speaks consolingly to us and feeds us with his own body and blood. Two themes color the liturgy, one joyous, and the other sad. The joyous theme is denoted by the flowers around the altar. The celebrant wears white vestments. The Gloria, absent during Lent, is solemnly sung, and the bells ring out. After the Gloris, no bell is sounded. Only one Mass should be offered in each Church on this special day.
This should be a family and community celebration with priests and congregation gathered about the Lord’s Table, or rather Christ with his disciples. After the homily the priest washes the feet of twelve men doing what the Savior commanded. After Mass, the unconsumed Hosts are taken to a side chapel. The repository is adorned with flowers and the people stay to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
Good Friday
On Good Friday we celebrate the anniversary death of Christ. Although Christ’s death was a judicial murder, and those who were immediately responsible were guilty of sin, the liturgy describes the Crucifixion as a “Happy Fault” because it won for us so great a redemption. However, we should not focus on the sins of those Romans or Jews who were responsible for the death on Calvary; we should recall that it is our sins that are ultimately responsible for Christ’s death. As we venerate the Cross we ask God to give us the grace of perfect contrition for our sins, sorrow for sin based on love of God who is all good and deserving of all our love.
The Liturgy of the word on Good Friday (NoMass)
The first reading tells of the suffering servant who was wounded for our sins, and opened not his mouth. The second reading tells us we have a great high priest who learned obedience and became the source of salvation for all who obey Him. We hear of the Redeemer’s meek model, the Paschal Lamb. Today this figure becomes reality as the true Lamb; Jesus Christ is slain! It was no accident that Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice at the very time of the Jewish Passover. At three o’clock, when the Paschal lamb was being sacrificed in the Temple, he died on the Cross. The Gospel recounting the Lord’s Passion is followed by a short homily and a series of intercessions embodying the needs of Christians.
The Veneration of the Cross
Next, we adore the Cross, the instrument of our salvation. We express our faith in the divinity of Christ who died on the Cross, and our gratitude to him for having suffered so much. But the Cross is also the instrument of his triumph. By it, Jesus Christ conquered Satan, he conquered sin, and he conquered death. By His Cross, He has given us the life of grace conferred in Baptism; it is the beginning of that eternal life which will be ours after the Resurrection. The priest processes with the veiled (or unveiled) Cross held high. At the same time the following chant is sung: “This is the wood of the Cross upon which hung the Savior of the world!” The people respond: “Come let us worship!” Priests and people venerate the Cross while ancient chants are being sung.
The Communion Service
We shall now have the privilege of receiving Holy Communion the very Victim of the Cross: for this purpose the ciborium is brought from the Altar of Repose while the choir sings. We are to be united sacramentally with Christ who died for us. It is through his Death that we have been made his brothers and sisters, adopted children of the same Father. And so, to prepare for Holy Communion, we pray as one united family of God, the “Our Father”, in which the priest will lead us. When the Communion service is complete we disperse in silence.
The Paschal Vigil
The Paschal Vigil is the climax of our celebration of the Christian Mysteries. It is concerned with the Resurrection of Christ from his tomb. We start with the blessing of the new fire, new light. Fire has been struck from a flint or rock: this reminds us how Christ, the light of the world, came forth from the rock of his grave on this Holy Night, to enlighten those who “sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."
