From noon to 3pm on Good Friday, what will you be doing?

[benedictgal]

Something else that I plan on doing is reading the book, “Death on a Friday Afternoon” by the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus. I started re-reading it and, even though I am a fast reader, this one needs to go down in slow chunks. I also plan on praying the Stations that the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger wrote before he became pope.

 

[whatevergirl]

I doubt that I’ll be able to describe how meaningful this is to me, but I’ll try. Last year, on Thursday 03/20, I was admitted into the hospital to give birth to my 5th child. I thought for sure he’d come right away, being 5th! To my surprise, there were complications, so it was the most intense, painful labor yet. Midnight hit and a new nurse came on duty. There was a white board at the foot of my bed and she drew three crosses. She was sent directly from God! Her gesture touched my heart. I suffered until just before the hour of mercy, when a beautiful new life came into the world. I’m not for a second trying to equate my pain with that of Jesus, but offering it up and finding symbolism in my own life was so profound. I’ll NEVER forget what a gift if was for the Lord to bless me with my own suffering and joy on Good Friday 2008. He was right beside me the whole time!

I love that story. Isn’t God amazing? Thank you for sharing that…I find it most awesome!

 

[baltobetsy]

At 9:00 AM, I’ll sing morning prayer at my parish.

I’m tossed up about where to go for the 3:00 Liturgy of the Passion. I’ve always gone to my parish and loved it, but Archbishop O’Brien will have the service at the Cathedral, and I’m just nuts about him.

For Stations in the evening, I’ll go wherever I didn’t go at three o’clock.

And at noon, I’m very strongly tempted to go to the Episcopal church where I sing, because they’re having a sermon by one of the finest preachers I’ve ever heard. It’s a female clergyperson (I just can’t call her a priest) who, at first glance, looks like some feminist nut. She has preached at the services I’ve sung two or three times in the past couple of years, and each time, she knocks my socks off. She goes deeply into Scripture and has never said anything wacky, liberal or otherwise unorthodox. And she constructs each sermon beautifully, like a symphony or a sonata. Every thought is brought together at the end to make a wonderful conclusion. I think I just talked myself into it. I’ll just sneak in the back so as not to create scandal and slip right out as soon as she finishes.

Betsy

 

[vilmapobre]

reflection and attend the Commemoration of the Lord’s passion and Death in St Patrick Church, Beenleigh

 

[windmelody]

When I was in my home country I’m always in the church from 12 noon till 5pm.
12noon to 3pm each church in Philippines contemplating on Seven Last Words. After that is the communion of the faithful, then veneration of the cross, followed by procession around the parish with the image of Jesus in commeration of being laid in the tomb, with the Image of the Sorrowful Mother. This procession normally ended at 5 to 6pm.

Oh how I miss that holy week practices. I haven’t done it for three years now, cause Im here in Dubai which is a Muslim country.

 

[Epeenchin]

You have Mass on Good Friday?

Ours, we have masses in our local parish on Palm Sunday (5/4/09) 8:00am; Holy Thursday (9/4/09) 7:30pm; Good Friday (10/4/09) is Station of the Cross at 8:00am, where we will all walk up the hill and stop to pray at each of the 14 crosses planted there for many years now (quite a distant too and very hot sun!) then at 3:00pm we have another mass; Holy Saturday (11/4/09) 6:30pm and of course on Easter Sunday (12/4/09).

 

[Kathrin]

I am working until 2pm.
I will be fasting or semi-fasting (probably only drinking something liquid) while those I work with have lunch.
I work at a group home; I hope that maybe I’ll be able to talk the cook into not cooking meat for the residents.

Kathrin

 

[RazzsMom]

I’m excited for friends who are candidates (that’s after catechumen, right?) who will be baptized on Easter so I will go to service with them. Oh, I cannot wait until Pentecost!

Not quite. Candidates are those who are joining the Church at Easter and who are already Baptized in another Christian faith. As we “believe in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sin”, they will not be “re-baptized”. A Catechumen is also going to be initiated into the Church, but will be Baptized (and Confirmed and receive first Holy Communion).

 

[RazzsMom]

I will be lectoring at our Passion reading at 3 PM. From Noon until 3 I will be in prayer and Stations. I think watching the movie “Passion” might be a good option, too. I might do that.

Concerning the Veneration of the Cross: my parish has a relic of the True Cross that is embedded into an ornate solid oak carved cross. Two acolytes support the Cross and we alk up to Venerate the Relic by a solemn bow, or a kiss, etc. We do it in total silence. It is truly moving! I have not been able to find out how my parish came to own a Relic of the True Cross. My parish church is nearly 150 years old.

On Holy Saturday morning, the RCIA Team (of which I am a member) holds a retreat for our Elect from 9 AM until Noon. We then invite them to spend the remainder of the day in as much prayer as possible.

I LOVE EASTER!

 

[benedictgal]

Ours, we have masses in our local parish on Palm Sunday (5/4/09) 8:00am; Holy Thursday (9/4/09) 7:30pm; Good Friday (10/4/09) is Station of the Cross at 8:00am, where we will all walk up the hill and stop to pray at each of the 14 crosses planted there for many years now (quite a distant too and very hot sun!) then at 3:00pm we have another mass; Holy Saturday (11/4/09) 6:30pm and of course on Easter Sunday (12/4/09).

With all due repsect, your parish cannot celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Good Friday. According to Paschale Solemnitatis:

1. On this day, when “Christ our passover was sacrificed,” [63] the Church mediates on the passion of her Lord and Spouse, adores the cross, commemorates her origin from the side of Christ asleep on the cross, and intercedes for the salvation of the whole world.

59.** On this day, in accordance with ancient tradition, the Church does not celebrate the Eucharist: Holy Communion is distributed to the faithful during the celebration of the Lord’s passion alone, though it may be brought at any time of the day to the sick who cannot take part in the celebration. [64]**

Thus, what you will be having at 3PM is not the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, which includes the readings (and the reading of the Passion according to St. John), a homily, general intercessions, the Veneration of the Cross and reception of Holy Communion.

 

[BSHoop96]

Everyone, your ideas are so beautiful…I hope you all have a very blessed Good Friday.

Stations of the cross, why am I forgetting that? That sounds like a good idea. I don’t think they will be having that at our new parish, as our current one is too small, and we don’t have an official church yet, still being built…but, I could find one in the area that offers the stations.

I have been services over the years in PA, for the veneration of the cross, where you walk up in a line, to kiss the feet of Christ, on a large cross that the priest carries in, in silence? Anyone else do this?

Ours is a plain big wooden cross used just for this (it is upright). We go and kiss, or some kiss their hand and touch the cross.

 

[BSHoop96]

When I was in my home country I’m always in the church from 12 noon till 5pm.
12noon to 3pm each church in Philippines contemplating on Seven Last Words. After that is the communion of the faithful, then veneration of the cross, followed by procession around the parish with the image of Jesus in commeration of being laid in the tomb, with the Image of the Sorrowful Mother. This procession normally ended at 5 to 6pm.

Oh how I miss that holy week practices. I haven’t done it for three years now, cause Im here in Dubai which is a Muslim country.

just curious…are you free to practice your faith?

 

[Epeenchin]

With all due repsect, your parish cannot celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Good Friday. According to Paschale Solemnitatis:

Thus, what you will be having at 3PM is not the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, which includes the readings (and the reading of the Passion according to St. John), a homily, general intercessions, the Veneration of the Cross and reception of Holy Communion.

yes that is right thank you

 

[patrick457]

When I was in my home country I’m always in the church from 12 noon till 5pm.
12noon to 3pm each church in Philippines contemplating on Seven Last Words. After that is the communion of the faithful, then veneration of the cross, followed by procession around the parish with the image of Jesus in commeration of being laid in the tomb, with the Image of the Sorrowful Mother. This procession normally ended at 5 to 6pm.

Oh how I miss that holy week practices. I haven’t done it for three years now, cause Im here in Dubai which is a Muslim country.

Ah yes, I also miss that. A Filipino would miss all that - a whole day when there would be little or no television or radio broadcasts, leaving all in dead silence…

Unfortunately for me, Good Friday happens to fall on my first week of school (after Spring vacation).

 

[mikeghiorso]

Will be visiting the grave sites of relatives and friends … and recalling who died for our salvation …

 

[vilmapobre]

now i know i am not the only Filipino who miss our family tradition we used to observed in my younger age. i remember my grandma now 105yrs old still living with my sister in Sn Mateo thank God, who sits with us on our verandah as early as 5 o’clock in the morning and observed the birds. in those days including birds observed Good Friday too, you won’t hear any singing or cars passing. here in Australia i joined readings and choir singing at the altar on this day until resurrection. all this i offer to Jesus who died for us and starts my 9 days devotion. forgiveness and repentance to those i have hurt and ask Jesus to help me love more even it hurts.

 

[DixitDominus]

I will be reading the Gospel narratives of the Passion and praying before the altar of repose.

 

[jeanne71350]

I have taken off Good Friday as a personal holiday, over the years, and my kids and I (and dh if not working) have often prayed together during this time of Jesus dying on the cross, or have just kept silent during that time…doing something else. I have also watched Passion of the Christ and prayed the Chaplet afterwards. I was just curious as to what some of you do, for your Good Friday ‘traditions?’

Well, I will deffinately start to pray the Divine Mercy Novena, Watch the Passion, and go help the Church start decorating for the Easter Vigil.

-Jeanne

 

[elizebeth123]

My parish has Stations of the Cross at noon and at 3:00 pm, Good Friday Service. I’m taking most of the day off from work, and will be at Church. I’ll stay between Stations and the service to pray. I’m being Baptised and confirmed at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, so I don’t want to miss a thing!

 

[jeanne71350]

My parish has Stations of the Cross at noon and at 3:00 pm, Good Friday Service. I’m taking most of the day off from work, and will be at Church. I’ll stay between Stations and the service to pray. I’m being Baptised and confirmed at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, so I don’t want to miss a thing!

That is awesome! Congrats

-Jeanne