CMN OFFICE, Manila, April 22, 2011-The gospels described the Good Friday as the commemoration of Jesus' Passion story of all Christians in the world where Jesus was betrayed, trialed, crucified, died and buried. The ritual marks the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and precedes the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday as part of the (Semana Santa) Holy Week where Catholics worldwide are now joining the traditional solemn processions representing the Passion of Christ.
Historian said that Jewish tradition dictated that Good Friday began at sundown on Maundy Thursday, adding that the Good Friday traditionally began with the betrayal of Jesus by his apostle Judas in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was subsequently brought before the Sanhedrin council, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate and King Herod of Galilee with the ultimate outcome ordering his condemnation to death by crucifixion.
The trial of Jesus and his crucifixion are described in varying detail by all four (4) canonical Gospels, the Jewish historian Josephus and the Roman writer Tacitus while the specific events and theological implications are widely disputed, the historicity of the occasion is widely accepted.
The church services this Good Friday revolves around the readings of the Gospel accounts of the Passion story. It includes the distribution of the Eucharist that was consecrated during the Mass on Maundy Thursday and special veneration of the cross by inviting individuals to approach the altar and kiss the wood of the crucifix in the Catholic liturgy for Good Friday.
Christians also marked the Good Friday by participating and/or watching processions meant to replicate the journey that Jesus took through the streets of Jerusalem while carrying his cross to the site of his crucifixion at Calvary. Every year, two of the largest and most famous of these occasions are Rome's Way of the Cross that leads to the Coliseum and is presided over by the Pope and the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem where a procession along the traditionally marked route of Jesus that is attended by thousands of pilgrims.
Key religious leaders will parade around the streets a few hour after 3 o’clock in the afternoon, where the Catholics believe that it is the time when Jesus died in the cross followed by decorated carriages and parish church officials, religious groups and devotees holding rosaries and candles.
The Good Friday is also a day of strict fasting. Catholics are instructed to abstain from eating meat as with all the Fridays of Lent. In Ash Wednesday, the fasting rules for Good Friday dictate that adherents should eat only one full meal with two smaller meals being permitted as long as no other food is consumed in the interim. The use of other meat-based products such as lard, chicken broth or dairy is not traditionally forbidden, although many individuals elect to make their Good Friday meals entirely vegetarian or vegan.
A special liturgy is read in the account of the Passion according to John’s Gospel celebrates by the churches, it is a series of prayers (prayers for special intentions) offered, and the faithful venerate the Cross by coming forward and kiss him. It includes prayers for the Acts of Reparation, the Veneration of the Cross, meditation on the Seven Last Words, praying the Way of the Cross, and the presentation of the “senakulo” or Passion plays. The Good Friday ends with the serving of Holy Communion.
The Good Friday is being observed as a national holyday in many countries with strong Christian traditions. (Jason de Asis)
12 comments:
This is the time for us to repent and to talk to Jesus our savior. I hope that everybody should respect this memorable event and not going into the beaches and disco houses.
I'll be in church for the Good Friday service. My child will be there too thanks to HISD closing school to celebrate a "spring" holiday - so called because, guess what, some people aren't Christian.
I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist but I have been bothered that Earth Day was somehow scheduled on Good Friday. There's probably been quite a bit of discussion about this but it must have passed right by and I didn't notice it. I want to protect the Earth as much as the next guy. I want to be a good steward of the environment and leave the planet better than I found it. I don't want to be forced into a decision where my belief in God is pitted against my desire for a clean planet. God will always win. It really does seem as though Earth Day has somehow become an assault on Christianity. I don't worship the Earth. I worship God.
I grew up in a devout Southern Baptist home. My mother directed the church daycare and my father is still a deacon. Never in my life has anybody in my family called the holiday "Pascua" or Passover or whatever. It has always been Easter. I don't know who these "most Christians" are that you speak of.
It is better for us to respect our own belief. A heart to heart talk to God is the best. what is our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Thank you sir Jason for your spiritual nourishment. Hope that you're always in good state of health.
"As believers in God, the Noble Blue falcons Int'l, Environmentalists, Peace Crusaders, join the Christian World in the observance of the Lenten Season.May peace, unity and the protection of God's wonderful creation reign in our hearts and minds."
Sir Jason sana nga lahat ay nagninilay kaya lang napansin ko ngayon na kahit biyernes santo ay may mga nag-pi-piknik pa rin sa mga ilog, beach resort at iba pang mga lugar. Madami din ang nagpapatunog ng mga maiingay na musika. Parang baliwala na sa kanila ang kahalagahan ng araw na ito.
When I consider how Jesus continues to lead me from my life of sin, living only for myself and in disregard of others, towards a life of radical love of God and Neighbor, I thank God for my savior Jesus, and declare him Lord, and pick up my cross and follow.
Jesus' death on the cross also reminds us that he was the supreme revelation of love, and by Jesus' life, and his death we understand God's love for us. Love was at the forefront of all of Jesus' teachings. Love of God and love of neighbor were Jesus' final word on how to live a religious life. But he also taught his followers to love their enemies and to turn the other cheek. Jesus' death underscored all he had previously said on love by reminding his followers that greater love have no man than he give his life for his friends - but Jesus gave his life for his enemies too, even those of us who continue to sin in complicity with the kingdom of evil.
A life lost is always a cause for grief. A lost life of one who was filled to overflowing with God's pure love, acceptance, and compassion is a tragedy. A lost life of the one who brought the world Good News for which he was unjustly murdered by the evil of a sin sick world is a scandal.
I can only shake my head and say..... where are the good old days when a priest would be summarily kicked out of the priesthood just for having sexual relationship with a woman?
The Catholic Church is quick to cry "Foul!" when it comes to condoms and birth control methods.... only for it to sheepishly turn a blind eye and adopt a more benevolent attitude when it comes to sexual offenders & pedophiles among their clergy.
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