What is Good Friday? Everything you need to know about this sacred day✨

Lent is coming to an end soon and before the arrival of Easter comes Holy Week and its climax: Good Friday. But what is Good Friday? What is its origin? What should a Christian do during this day? Here is a little guide to know everything about this blessed day and celebrate it properly.

What is Good Friday? What is its meaning?

Good Friday is one of the most important days of Lent. It takes place during Holy Week - the week preceding Easter. It is a significant time for Christianity where the entire community commemorates the Passion of Christ and his sacrifice on the Cross. 

Among the Orthodox, it is also called “Great Friday" or "Holy and Great Friday". This day is a public holiday in many countries around the world, but not in France on the Alsace-Moselle exception, which is not concerned by the separation of Church and State.

Good Friday: commemorating the Passion of Christ.

Good Friday is undoubtedly the saddest and darkest day on the Christian calendar. It is a day of mourning for the Church and believers, during which everyone is led to remember the Passion of Christ. But what exactly is it about? 

What is the Passion of Christ? 

The Passion of Christ refers to three significant events in the life of the Messiah: his arrest, his trial, and his death on the cross. 

At that time, Jesus was already seen by the Pharisees as a threat to the established order. He disturbed the ruling power, which felt threatened by his divine teachings and growing popularity. 

While they were on the Mount of Olives, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, betrayed Christ by handing him over to the Roman soldiers for 30 pieces of silver. He was then delivered to Governor Pontius Pilate, who, fearing Jewish reprisals, had him tortured and sentenced to death. 

When we talk about the Passion of Christ, we refer to all the sufferings endured by Christ from his arrest to his sacrifice on the Cross: the betrayal he suffers from his companion, his scourging, the crown of thorns, and finally his crucifixion out of Love for Humanity.

👉🏼 To discover the meaning of the crown of thorns, click here.

Why do we talk about the Passion? 

Nowadays, the word "passion" has lost its original meaning. When we talk about passion, we think of a strong, even obsessive inclination for something or someone. But in reality, the word passion descends from the Latin "passio", which itself comes from the Greek "pathos" which are two words that mean… suffering. 

The term passion therefore refers to all the sufferings endured by the Messiah during this fateful day. That is why we speak of the Passion of Christ.

 What does Good Friday consist of?

As you may have understood, Good Friday is a time of mourning. It is the day on which the Christian community commemorates the sufferings and the death of Christ on the Cross, his gift to Humanity: his Sacrifice to atone for the sins of men.

How does Good Friday unfold?

Good Friday is traditionally marked by two major celebrations: the Way of the Cross and the Office of the Passion. 

The Way of the Cross is a procession that invites the Christian to relive each stage of the Messiah's arduous journey and to follow him in his sufferings and sacrifice for the salvation of mankind. It retraces the fourteen stations of the Passion of Christ:

• His condemnation to crucifixion 
• When he is burdened with his cross
• The moment when he staggers for the first time under the weight of the cross
• The meeting with his mother
• Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross 
• Saint Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 
• Jesus falls a second time 
• He meets the weeping women of Jerusalem and comforts them 
• Jesus staggers for the third time 
• He is stripped of his clothes 
• Jesus is nailed to the cross 
• Jesus dies on the cross 
• Jesus is taken down from the cross and his body is given to his mother
• His body is laid in the tomb.

Each person commemorates this painful journey by following the procession, eyes turned toward Christ. In some countries, like in the Philippines, the faithful are even crucified for Good Friday. Elsewhere, they whip themselves to remember the extent of the sufferings endured by the Messiah. 

The Way of the Cross is then followed by the Office of the Cross, the Good Friday service during which the account of the Passion of Christ according to Saint John is read. Since it is a day of mourning, churches roll up their carpets, the lavish ornaments are removed, and the statues of the Messiah are veiled. 

Good Friday is a moment of deep reflection. A day during which the faithful remember the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and meditate on the meaning of his suffering.

👉🏼 To learn more about the crucifixion, click here.

What should the believer do on Good Friday?

In addition to following the Way of the Cross and attending the service, Christians are invited to observe a day of fasting according to their age and physical condition. 

Good Friday is indeed a day of penance and deprivation. The Church invites believers to “fast,” according to the common expression: that is, to avoid rich foods like meat, or dairy products in some parts of the world. That is why fish is traditionally served on this day. A deprivation to remember and honor the suffering of Christ.

10 ways to celebrate Good Friday at home

To properly celebrate this blessed day, here are 10 ideas you can easily implement for the next Good Friday which will take place on April 15, 2022: 

• Avoid going to work : if possible, stay at home. Take a day off to fully enjoy the blessings of this holy day and devote yourself to reflection and meditation. 
• Fast : if your condition allows, fast as best you can. This deprivation of food aims to detach from bodily needs to focus on those of the spirit. 
• Reduce entertainment time : television and smartphones are very useful daily, but can sometimes also help keep us away from God. Use this day to reduce distractions to a minimum and replace them with moments of prayer, reading, and meditation. 
• Wear black : Good Friday is a day of mourning. You can dress in black to commemorate the death of Christ on the cross. 
• Prepare Lenten buns : they are a must during this sacred period. Take some time to bake Lenten buns and offer them to your loved ones and neighbors.
• Read the Passion of the Christ in the Bible : take the opportunity to read the Scriptures. Browse the passages that mention Jesus' suffering and meditate on their meaning. 
• Multiply good deeds : Good Friday is a day when we are invited to forget ourselves to think of others. Do a favor, help someone in need, or make a donation. 
• Attend the Way of the Cross : Go to the nearest parish and follow the procession to relive the fourteen stations of the Passion of the Christ.
• Watch The Passion of the Christ : Sit comfortably on your couch and watch The Passion of the Christ with Mel Gibson, which retraces the sufferings of the Messiah. A good way to combine the useful with the pleasant. 
• Keep silent : at 3:00 PM, the hour of Jesus' death, observe a moment of silence and pray. 

And you, how do you celebrate Good Friday? Tell us in the comments ⬇️