Good Friday 2014

Good Friday

This is a belated post. Good Friday commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross on Golgotha (The place of the Skulls).

So service usually starts with the Station of The Cross, where it highlights Jesus's journey to his death.

I Jesus Is Condemned to Die

II Jesus Carries His Cross

III Jesus Falls the First Time

IV Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother

V Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

VI Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

VII Jesus Falls the Second Time

VIII Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

IX Jesus Falls the Third Time

X Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments

XI Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

XII Jesus Dies on the Cross

XIII Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross

XIV Jesus Is Placed in the Sepulchre

On this day, the crucifix will be draped with purple clothes. This is true also for all statues, and holy images in the church. The tabernacle which holds the body of Christ will be left open/empty.

Next, the veneration of the cross will occur by the faithful by kneeling & kissing the cross.

When the Priest celebrates the Eucharist, I noticed (after a decade of being a Christian..sorry) that only the body(bread) is broken and consumed, where as there is no blood (wine) being celebrated unlike Holy Thursday or any other Eucharistic celebration. I believe this is the only time in the whole year, that the blood is not being consumed. (Let me check next year :D). Even after so many years of being a Catholic (more than a decade now), I do forget or don't even notice at all the small details on these Holy Triduum celebrations.

Then I remember that the following verse is spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper.

Matthew 26:29

I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Again the celebration is in a sombre mood; there is no Hossanna being sung like the usual mass celebrations. There is no music band playing, only hymms.

Let's wait for Easter then!! Now I to go & prepare for Easter Vigil.

If you are interested in the flow of the mass. Just use this useful app. LAUDATE. (available in Itune & Android). Just google.

P.S Catholic Mass celebrations AROUND the world follow a very standard & structured flow. For e.g, the mass readings, the liturgical flows, are the same around the world.

I have participate in Eucharistic celebration in other parts of the world, and the flows are the same. So the LAUDATE app is very useful :D