Good Friday

[still_looking]

On Good Friday we venerated a cross that did not have the figure of Christ on it. When I queried this at the Liturgy meeting, I was told we were venerating the “wood of the cross on which our Redeemer died”. This is the first time this has happened in the 52 years since I converted. Am I missing something somewhere? Where is this instruction?

 

[martinporres]

From the USCCB’s publication

“Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship”:

The Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday
§ 83 § The celebration of the Lord’s passion on Good Friday has its particular spatial requirements. After the proclamation of the passion and the General Intercessions, the entire assembly rise to venerate the cross or crucifix. The cross used for the veneration preferably should be of sufficient size to be held easily, be carried in procession, and be venerated. After the veneration, the cross remains in the sanctuary.

Appears to be legitimate with either a cross or crucifix. This past Good Friday, the pope used a crucifix.

 

[Psalm45_9]

This subject has been hashed out on these forums before. At my Church, we always venerate a plain cross. My pastor’s reasoning is that as the chant states, “This is the wood of the cross.” We are venerating the cross, not the person who hung on it. We venerate an instrument of such a horrible death now being the instrument of our salvation. Too many people of the years have been kissing the hands and feet of Christ, and so they have lost the concept of what they’re doing, we’re venerating the cross. One year we put out a statue of the dead Christ after he was taken off the cross. One women asked before the service if we were going to kiss that, my pastor struck his head with his hand. The chant says, “This is the wood of the cross.”

 

[puzzleannie]

I have never, in Catholic living in several dioceses around the country, seen any custom other than venerating a plain wooden cross on Good Friday, large enough to be seen, 4-6’ high, made of plain wood.

 

[acadian]

A crucifix was used at my parish.

 

[Canadian]

I’ve seen both…

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

In Illinois I’ve only seen a crucifix used.

Also worth saying for Good Friday:

General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM 2003):

1. A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.

1. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the head and a bow of the body.

A) A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.
B) A bow of the body, that is to say a profound bow, is made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor meum (Almighty God, cleanse my heart) and In spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to receive); in the Creed at the words Et incarnatus est (by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . made man); in the Roman Canon at the words Supplices te rogamus (Almighty God, we pray that your angel). The same kind of bow is made by the deacon when he asks for a blessing before the proclamation of the Gospel. In addition, the priest bows slightly as he speaks the words of the Lord at the consecration.

 

[ltbpoe43]

So far just a plain wooden cross - very moving part of that mass.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

It really should be a plain cross for the reasons already stated.

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

So far just a plain wooden cross - very moving part of that mass.

Just an FYI, there is no Good Friday “mass”. It is a service. That is the only day in the year when Mass cannot be said anywhere in the world.

 

[az_4_faith]

I also watched Pope Benedict present a crucifix for veneration this past Good Friday at the Vatican.