History of Good Friday

What Is Good Friday?

This doctor gives the history of Good Friday from a coroner's point of view.

Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, runs through Holy Thursday, and Good Friday to the Easter Sunday vigil on Holy Saturday.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the most important days to abstain from meat and to fast since for many Catholics (depending on age, health and local ordo) it is a mortal sin to eat meat on these days. The Good Friday fast should, of course, be as good as you can make it in respect for Jesus Who gave up His flesh for our sakes. Good Friday dates change each year since they depend on the variable dates of Easter Sunday as does the rest of the Catholic Lent. When is Easter Sunday?

Catholic Good Friday Liturgy

The Dolorous Passion gives the history of Good Friday.

History of Good Friday Liturgy

The Missal has the Good Friday Liturgy.

"The first part consists of readings from Scripture and a prayer followed by St. John's story of the Passion, and concluded by a long series of prayers for various intentions. In this part we have preserved the form of the earliest Christian prayer meeting - a service which was derived from the Jewish Synagogue. To this service of Scriptural readings the celebration of the Eucharist was afterwards joined to form the one solemn act of worship now called the Mass. This Mass still preserves these distinct divisions: the first from the beginning to the Offertory, in which the Introit and Gloria are included; the second from the Offertory to the Communion. The first is called the Mass of the Catechumens, (for they were not permitted to remain for the celebration of the Eucharist); the second, the Mass of the Faithful.

"The third part consists of the procession from the altar of Repose to the High Altar, followed by the Mass of the Presanctified. This Mass is not strictly speaking, a Mass, for there is no consecration: the celebrant receives the Host that he consecrated on the previous day...."

"It is the only day in the whole year on which the Sacrifice of the Mass is not offered." We are so grateful that the faithful can receive Holy Communion on that day since it is also a First Friday sometimes!

History Of Good Friday-Devotions

Our Lady of Sorrows devotions booklet.

If you have been fortunate enough to practice all of these devotions you will truly "Rejoice!" on Easter Sunday morning! The Holy Week and Good Friday Liturgy have taken you through the grief in the meaning of Good Friday in such a way that you truly can compasionate your Lord and His Blessed Mother. The contrast on Easter Sunday morning is astonishing after a good Cathoic Lent. There's no more engaging story on earth!