Good Friday

Priests prostrate themselves at the foot of the altar on Good Friday in March 1953 in Poughkeepsie, NY

"And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him... And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour" (Mark 15:25, 33)

The hour has come when we remember how Our Master, after having instituted the Sacrament of Love - the Eucharist - was betrayed and handed over to sinners to be whipped, beaten, and crucified. The entire life of Our Savior existed for this moment - the moment when His death redeemed the entire Human race.

In love unutterable for us, in torments, He died.

Today has always been and still remains, a day of mandatory Fasting and Abstinence. Also worth noting, upon entering our pews today, we are to genuflect to the Crucifix, not the tabernacle because the Eucharist is not present today in our churches.

Remember His love for you especially between 9 AM and 3 PM, the time of His agony. Between 12 Noon and 3 PM specifically, pray because that is the time when He hung on the cross. Pray! Join me in the Litany of the Passion and the Sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary. Pray the Stations of the Cross today at your parish or at home around 3 PM. Likewise, meditate on Our Lady of Sorrows today as well.

There is no Mass anywhere in the world on Good Friday in the Roman Rite, but there is a service, the Liturgy of the Presanctified, to commemorate Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross. And there is a plenary indulgence available: "A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful, who in the solemn liturgical action of Good Friday devoutly assist at the adoration of the Cross and kiss it."

Click here for the prayer and readings for the traditional Liturgy of the Presanctified.

St. Patrick's Seminary in 1967

The Good Friday Novena Prayer:

"O, my Lord Jesus, I hereby beg of Thee, by the merits of Thy Precious Blood, by Thy Divine Heart, and by the intercession of Thy Most Holy Death to assist me in this pressing necessity."

(To be said 33 times for each intention. It must be said between the hours of 12 noon and 3 PM on Good Friday)

Indulged Prayer for Good Friday:

I adore you, O glorious Cross, which was adorned with the Heart and Body of my Savior Jesus Christ, stained and covered with Blood. I adore you, O Holy Cross, out of love for Him, Jesus, who is my Savior and my God.

(Pope Pius IX declared that by reciting this above prayer 5 times on Friday, we release 5 souls from Purgatory and we release 33 souls from Purgatory by reciting it on Good Friday. This prayer should be recited before a Crucifix, with a contrite heart and praying a few moments for the Pope.)