Good Friday

It's Good Friday today. The day JC was cruxified on the cross and died for everyone to atone for their sins. That was 2000+ years ago. Today, in the present time, it's a day of obligation for Catholics, it's a day we show our respect and gratitude to JC for sacrificing himself for us all.

Usually the rite (not a mass, as a mass is a certain sort of celebration in the normal Church calendar) is in the afternoon at about 3pm. From what I gather, it is the time when JC died on the cross after all the hubbub on the execution day.

The whole service last 2hrs, including the 'Stations of the cross'. That's the 14 stations, or milestones, which records from the time JC was caught, then tortured, cruxified and then died on the cross. After the rites of the stations of the cross, the main ritual which consists of readings and mediations is next. The Passion (the 'story' of how He was betrayed and then captured, tortured and sent to execution) according to the Gospel of John will be read by the congregation, one or two appointed readers and the priest himself.

During this time, the cross will be shroud with a cloth. And then will be uncovered by the priest much later in the ritual. what follows will be that the cross is presented and the people will take turns to venerate it. Again, showing a mark of respect to what JC had done for us.

As with many other Fridays leading to this Good Friday, Catholics are to abstain from meat on this day. And preferably to be able to fast as well. Not total abstainence, but keeping to 1 main meal at least, and with 2 smaller meals at most.

Instead of going for the afternoon service back in my parish, my mum and I went to another church this year as it had a morning one. Downside is to wake up early and can't sleep in on a holiday. But then, it would mean having the afternoon free for other obligations. Perhaps it's not the proper Christian way of keeping the day of obligation free, but I guess sometimes we are too caught up wif the material world to be able to set aside too much time for our spritual needs.