Easter Triduum - Good Friday at John XXIII Catholic Church

 

 

I attended Good Friday vigil services at John XXIII Catholic Church in Albuquerque. On Good Friday, Catholics focus their attention on the Cross at Calvary. In the solemn rituals of Good Friday - in the veneration of the Cross, in the chanting of the Reproaches, in the reading of the Passion and in receiving the pre-consecrated Eucharistic Host, Catholics contemplate the cost of Christ's redemption. The church is in a state of mourning - the altar is bare, ornaments have been removed and the door of the empty tabernacle is open.  In the first liturgical ceremony, the veneration of the Cross, Catholics recite the ancient praise, "We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world." A representation of the Cross is raised up on the altar steps and each member of the congregation is invited  to the altar to genuflect and kiss the cross. By reverencing the Cross, Catholics acknowledge  that it is inseparable from Christ's sacrifice and so we are in essence reverencing Him. The next liturgy, the chanting of the Reproaches, occurs during the veneration of the Cross. In this ancient hymn or chant, Christ reproaches us for our sinfulness and the hardening of our hearts to God, necessitating His crucifixion for our redemption. Next in the liturgy of Good Friday, the Passion of Christ is read. At John XXIII, Father Ark read Jesus' words and parishioners read the narration and other parts - a reflection that we all share in the guilt of Christ's Passion. The final part of the liturgy is the distribution of the Eucharist consecrated on Holy Thursday and kept in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel until it is brought into the main Church for communion during the Good Friday vigil. By receiving the consecrated body of Christ we share in the final glory of the crucifixion. We awaken ourselves to His Resurrection on Easter.

 

For a video of Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Good Friday 2013, click on

Pope Francis honors Jesus' Passion on Good Friday Service - YouTube

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2P6EBnvyZkShare