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RockRaven

(19,454 posts)
5. Catholics still have services on Good Friday, however, it is only technically not a Mass
Fri Apr 3, 2026, 05:02 PM
Friday

because the Eucharist is not consecrated during the service. But there IS a service, including Liturgy of the Word and Holy Communion (with Eucharist which was consecrated on Thursday).

Source: raised Catholic, attended parochial K-8, was altar boy.


Here is a rundown on Catholic Good Friday services from Wikipedia, note this is separate from the Stations of the Cross service and describes what would be done in place of the usual daily Mass:

The Good Friday liturgy consists of three parts: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Holy Communion.


The Liturgy of the Word consists of the clergy and assisting ministers entering in complete silence, without any singing. They then silently make a full prostration. This signifies the abasement (the fall) of (earthly) humans.[75] It also symbolizes the grief and sorrow of the Church.[76] Then follows the Collect prayer, and the reading or chanting of Isaiah 52:13–53:12, Hebrews 4:14–16, Hebrews 5: 7–9, and the Passion account from the Gospel of John, traditionally divided between three deacons,[77] yet usually read by the celebrant and two other readers. In the older form of the Mass known as the Tridentine Mass the readings for Good Friday are taken from Exodus 12:1–11 and the Gospel according to St. John (John 18:1–40); (John 19:1–42).

The Great Intercessions also known as orationes sollemnes immediately follows the Liturgy of the Word and consists of a series of prayers for the Church, the Pope, the clergy and laity of the Church, those preparing for baptism, the unity of Christians, the Jews, those who do not believe in Christ, those who do not believe in God, those in public office, and those in special need.[78] After each prayer intention, the deacon calls the faithful to kneel for a short period of private prayer; the celebrant then sums up the prayer intention with a Collect-style prayer. As part of the pre-1955 Holy Week Liturgy, the kneeling was omitted only for the prayer for the Jews.[79]

The Adoration of the Cross has a crucifix, not necessarily the one that is normally on or near the altar at other times of the year, solemnly unveiled and displayed to the congregation, and then venerated by them, individually if possible and usually by kissing the wood of the cross, while hymns and the Improperia ("Reproaches" ) with the Trisagion hymn are chanted.[80]

Holy Communion is bestowed according to a rite based on that of the final part of Mass, beginning with the Lord's Prayer, but omitting the ceremony of "Breaking of the Bread" and its related acclamation, the Agnus Dei. The Eucharist, consecrated at the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Maundy Thursday, is distributed at this service.[81] Before the Holy Week reforms of Pope Pius XII in 1955, only the priest received Communion in the framework of what was called the Mass of the Presanctified, which included the usual Offertory prayers, with the placing of wine in the chalice, but which omitted the Canon of the Mass.[79] The priest and people then depart in silence, and the altar cloth is removed, leaving the altar bare except for the crucifix and two or four candlesticks.[82]

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