Good Friday in the Catholic Church

Good Friday is the second day of our Triduum. It is the day on which we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the act that brought salvation to all.

                "It is accomplished," And bowing his head he gave up his spirit. 
                (Jn 19:30)
 

So today the whole Church, stripped of its ornaments, the altar bare with no cloths, candles nor cross, and the door of the empty tabernacle stands open, mourns the death of our Savior.    

The organ music is silent from Holy Thursday until the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil, as well as bells and other instruments; the only music permitted during this period is unaccompanied chant.

The liturgy in the afternoon consists of three parts:

(a)The Liturgy of the Word

The priest and assisting ministers enter in complete silence, without any singing. They prostrate themselves for a few moments of silent prayer in front of the altar, signifying both the abasement of earthly man, and also the grief and sorrow of the Church.

The Passion account from the Gospel of John is read. (During Holy Week, the Passion is read three times: on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday.)

(b)  Veneration of the Cross

A cross, either veiled or unveiled, is processed through the Church, and then venerated by the congregation. We reverently venerate and kiss the wooden cross on which hung the Savior of the world in order to honor the great sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us.

Adoration or veneration of an image or representation of Christ's cross does not mean we are actually honoring the material image but rather what it represents. In kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it we are paying the highest honor to our Lord's cross as the instrument of our salvation. Because the Cross is inseparable from His sacrifice; in reverencing His Cross we are, in effect, adoring Christ.

Thus we affirm: We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

(c) Holy Communion

The altar is covered with cloth for the Holy Communion part and the ciboria containing the Blessed Sacrament consecrated on Holy Thursday 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 before Holy Communion.

Then the congregation receives Holy Communion.

The Prayer after Communion is said, followed by the final Prayer Over the People.

At the end of the rite, the priest  and people depart in silence, and the altar cloth is removed, leaving the altar bare again except for the Cross and two or more candlesticks.

Seven Last Words:

In some Churches the reflections on the Seven Last Words of Jesus are done prior to the afternoon liturgy.

Day of Fasting and Abstinence:

The Catholic Church treats Good Friday as a day of fast and abstinence. According to Church's rule, fasting is required for ages 18 to 60, and abstinence is from age 14.

The Church mourns in silence:

The rest of the day we keep our meditative silence to mourn the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, who saved us from our sins, as we await with joyful expectation his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
 

Deo Optimo Maximo!

Sources: Ordo 2013, Catholic Online, CatholicCulture.org