Day 2 - Good Friday (April 2)  

Good Friday is the second day of the Paschal Triduum.  The liturgy for this day introduces us to the mystery of Christ's redemptive sacrifice on the cross, the very act of our Lord that brought salvation to all:

        "It is accomplished," and bowing His head He gave up His spirit. (Jn 19:30)

The whole Church today, 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 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 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 the 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 carried in procession 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.  (During the pandemic, the adoration of the cross by kissing it shall be limited solely to the priest-celebrant.)

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 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 hast 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. (May be omitted during the pandemic.) 

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

At the end of the rite, the priest departs 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. (This may also be omitted as large gathering is still prohibited during the pandemic.)

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 till death.

Modifications during the pandemic:

Cardinal Sarah:  "Expressions of popular piety and processions common to Holy Week and the Easter Triduum may also take place later in the year, depending on the judgement of the local ordinaries."

CBCP:  After the Commemoration of the Lord's Passion, without the faithful, the presider in red cape or red stole over a surplice or cassock, rides a pick up vehicle as he carries a Crucifix and goes to the streets of the parish.  People with lighted candles wait in front of their homes to venerate the cross by kneeling down.  

The Church mourns in silence:

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

Let us reflect on how much our Lord loves us.  He accepts His cruel death on the cross so that He may bear our infirmities and endure our sufferings.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!