Sinful to have patries or watch basketball on Good Friday?

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Hello everyone,

I have not posted in a while, but I recently read an article about Cardinal Dolan condemning Catholic schools Notre Dame and Gonzaga for playing in March Madness on Friday, the holiest day of the year, and the millions who will watch on TV. Originally having no objections to watching this event, it made me wonder if I and most other Catholics I know are lukewarm and lax.

newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/720184

Also, at my (public) high school, we are having parties in two of my classes on Friday since it is the last school day before spring break. There are several Catholics in my classes but none of them seem to take Holy Week too seriously and are planning to enjoy all the food. I, for one, plan to fast on Friday (though only 17), but I know of few others doing the same.

I will probably be unable to make it to Mass on Friday, but I want to get up early and pray Stations of the Cross and the Rosary (I will be at school from 8 to 3). It seems to be the least I could do for my Lord and Savior.

I hope I do not come across as scrupulous or sanctimonious. I am just very concerned seeing how Catholics around me are not focusing on Christ during Holy Week. Would it be sinful to not act solemnly Friday, or to go to a party, or to watch basketball games that night? I will be at my (Southern Baptist) grandmother’s house after school, and I don’t recall her ever commemerating Good Friday much, but I do remember watching basketball and eating deserts at a gathering there on Good Friday three years ago.

What does the Church say about sanctifying Good Friday, and what is your personal opinion?

God Bless,
Nathan
 
I agree with the Cardinal on this one, if they are a catholic school, they should recognize and respect that particular day, even if it means a financial loss.

Im sure they will try to put a ‘spin’ on it though, in an attempt to justify what they WANT to do.
 
You can’t go to Mass on GF whether or not you want to. No Masses are said that day.

I commend your desire to observe GF traditionally.

ICXC NIKA
 
I remember as a child my mother didn’t allow radio or television on Good Friday.
Daddy could watch the national news, but that was it.
We were quiet, we’d walk the mile down to the “Immaculate” for Stations at 3 pm and mama would cry all the way home.
She and I would do a jigsaw puzzle, drink tall glasses of ice water on the screened porch, and then we’d turn in early.

Really good memories.
God bless everyone as we move into the Triduum.
 
Given the penitential nature of Good Friday (and the fact that it is a day of fasting and abstinence) it would seem a party would be kinda inappropriate. In general it would be praise worthy to turn our minds to prayer for reparation of our sins that nailed Christ to the cross, rather than parties, entertainment, or other frivolities.
 
There is one school that refuses to play on Sundays - BYU. If they make it to the tournament (which they didn’t this year), they are guaranteed Thursday/Saturday games as opposed to Friday/Sundays. I don’t know if the NCAA would permit other schools to have such an exemption, but I would approve of Catholic colleges and universities at least trying, especially in years when this is an issue.

The NCAA is primarily in the business of making money, but the tournament is also at the same time every year. The games weren’t scheduled to stick it to Christians. It’s just how it shook out this year. I do think that fans should probably not just zonk out in front of the TV for the holiest days of the year, but it’s not my place to assert that somebody is lax or lukewarm if they admit to watching basketball.
 
You have to go to school on Good Friday??? It is a stat holiday across Canada…for students and workers alike… I assumed it was in most of the Western world for historical Christian reasons.
There is no mass on Good Friday. The mass is, by its very nature, joyful as it, while commemorating the Lord’s passion and death, also celebrates the resurrection. On Good Friday, a solemn liturgy commemorating the Lord’s passion and death is served at 3 PM, the hour the Lord died. If you’re not able to get to this service at any parish, perhaps you can pray Vespers (Evening Prayer), the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary, and/or spend some time before a crucifix reflecting on the Lord’s sacrifice. Fasting is definitely a good start.
 
twf said:
You have to go to school on Good Friday??? It is a stat holiday across Canada…for students and workers alike… I assumed it was in most of the Western world for historical Christian reasons.
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Live and learn.

I once was in a course that scheduled an exam on Good Friday. When someone objected, Prof remarked, “you are supposed to suffer on Good Friday.”

ICXC NIKA
 
twf said:
You have to go to school on Good Friday??? It is a stat holiday across Canada…for students and workers alike… I assumed it was in most of the Western world for historical Christian reasons.
Click to expand...
Nope, I work for a large international corporation. Basically every country where we have offices has Good Friday off except the US and Saudi Arabia. Even our Singapore and India offices get Good Friday off. We even have a couple offices that get both Good Friday and Easter Monday off.

As far as I can tell, the US is one of the few countries with European ties that does not include Good Friday as a federal holiday. Many school districts around here simply have spring break during Holy Week to appease those who would complain about kids getting a religious holiday off.
 
Good Friday is a Bank (public) Holiday in the UK, but all large shops will be open. Easter Monday is also a Bank Holiday in most of the UK.
 
NH_USA said:
Hello everyone,

I have not posted in a while, but I recently read an article about Cardinal Dolan condemning Catholic schools Notre Dame and Gonzaga for playing in March Madness on Friday, the holiest day of the year, and the millions who will watch on TV. Originally having no objections to watching this event, it made me wonder if I and most other Catholics I know are lukewarm and lax.

newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/720184

Also, at my (public) high school, we are having parties in two of my classes on Friday since it is the last school day before spring break. There are several Catholics in my classes but none of them seem to take Holy Week too seriously and are planning to enjoy all the food. I, for one, plan to fast on Friday (though only 17), but I know of few others doing the same.

I will probably be unable to make it to Mass on Friday, but I want to get up early and pray Stations of the Cross and the Rosary (I will be at school from 8 to 3). It seems to be the least I could do for my Lord and Savior.

I hope I do not come across as scrupulous or sanctimonious. I am just very concerned seeing how Catholics around me are not focusing on Christ during Holy Week. Would it be sinful to not act solemnly Friday, or to go to a party, or to watch basketball games that night? I will be at my (Southern Baptist) grandmother’s house after school, and I don’t recall her ever commemerating Good Friday much, but I do remember watching basketball and eating deserts at a gathering there on Good Friday three years ago.

What does the Church say about sanctifying Good Friday, and what is your personal opinion?

God Bless,
Nathan
Click to expand...
I don’t read Cardinal Dolan’s tone, as quoted in the article, as “condemning”. Concerned, yes. And I think he is right to be concerned.

I remember one year when the home opener of my favorite baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, fell on Good Friday … I elected not to watch or listen to the game. Similarly, I won’t be seeing the new “Batman v Superman” movie on opening night (it opens this weekend). Instead, my friend Dan and I are going Tuesday night.
 
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