Today is Good Friday, on which we recall Jesus’ trial and scourging, his suffering and death on the cross. Catholics observe today with mournful solemnity, and with the practice of abstaining from meat and fasting.

After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper yesterday, the church is stripped of any ornamentation, and the altar is laid bare. The Eucharist is removed from the tabernacle and placed in a separate altar of repose.

By tradition, no Sacraments are celebrated today (except for certain instances of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, or Baptism for those near death) because the Church recall’s Jesus’ death, and consequent temporary absence from humanity. The liturgy today, then, is not a Mass, but a communion service at which the assembly receives from the Body of Christ that was consecrated on Holy Thursday.

The priest leads today’s liturgy without an opening or closing procession because it is simply a continuation of the one Triduum liturgy that spans three days and culminates in the Easter Vigil.

At today’s liturgy, the cross is venerated—the assembly is invited to approach the cross and perform some act of respect, such as kissing or touching it. (These practices are currently changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic). During this veneration, one of the prayers reads, “We worship you, Lord, we venerate your cross, we praise your resurrection. Through the cross you brought joy to the world.”

The liturgy today also includes extensive general intercessions. The assembly prays for the Church, the pope, the clergy and laity, for those preparing for baptism, for the unity of Christians, for the Jewish people, for those who do not believe in Jesus or God, for all of those in public office, and for those in special need. At this moment—when we recall the suffering and death of Jesus—we can have confidence that the God who gave us an only Son in love will also hear our prayers. We bring all of our needs to God this day and lay them at the foot of the cross.

The reliquary chapel in the Basilica holds many relics of Jesus’ passion and death, including a part of the column that Jesus was tied to when he was scourged, part of the whip that was used to beat him, part of his crown of thorns, a piece of rock from the hill where he was crucified, and a piece of the sponge that the soldiers used to offer him drink when he was on the cross. The chapel also holds a piece of the true cross, which is held in the center of the wooden cross shown here.

The image of Jesus’ face is an illustration of the image that was left on the veil that Veronica used to wipe the face of Jesus. Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross gave the image to Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C., when he left France for the wilderness of the American frontier to establish a university in northern Indiana. The image was venerated by the Holy Cross community in the Log Chapel and now is housed in the Basilica.

Our online pilgrimage to the Holy Land includes a report from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which was built over the place where Jesus was crucified. See images from that church by following this link.

On this Good Friday, let us solemnly recall the triumph of Christ’s cross over death!