Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Good Friday, the holiest day for Christians
Today is Good Friday, the holiest day for Christians. The period of Lent, which is being celebrated by many Christians, reaches a very important stage today with Christians commemorating the death of their Lord Jesus Christ. Today, churches will be packed as Christians attend special Good Friday services, some of them are three
The feet of one of 12 persons being washed by a priest, a custom by Catholics on Holy Thursday.
hours long, the number of hours Jesus hung on the cross.
Catholics will gather from 15:00 hrs in their churches and also have special Good Friday worship, the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion. The service will take the form of being consisted of three parts: the reading of the Passion story; the veneration of the cross and Holy Communion.
Several important celebrations are marked in Holy Week, including Holy Thursday, where Christians re- enact the Last Supper and where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Good Friday, in which Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and the expectant Holy Saturday evening vigil whereby they await to celebrate the resurrection.
Though not a religious element of Holy Week, there will also be the sale of the popular cross buns, which is a delicious treat for many.
Monsignor Terrence Montrose, Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Georgetown stated that during this entire week, Christians will be recollecting on the last days of a “very humble man”, Jesus. “He was struck down and he came in all humility to do the will of the Father. The week reminds us how to behave with each other…of service, humble service to other people.”
Yesterday he stated, “twelve people will come here (to the church)…and they will have their feet washed…the priest will undress [take off his vestments] and he will kneel in front of those people and wash their feet”.
Msgr Montrose added that today (Good Friday), the faithful will return and turn their attention to the Biblical accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus “no singing, no bells, nothing else—we come and we listen to the story…”
“The church asks of us during this week to pay special attention to the readings and everything we do here…as do all of the other churches around to the world… to see, to hear, to speak…as we try to understand the great mystery of God’s love.”
The priest noted it is only when we have given ourselves over to God, then we can make our lives in such a way that others may come to see and know and follow God. He affirmed that often we stay at a distance and do not get involved in other people’s problems and lives… “We stay at a great distance—a safe place.”
A nun kisses a crucifix during a Good Friday service in New Amsterdam.
Today, he stated, many women are crying for their children, especially their sons. ”Jesus reminds us that if we want to follow the Father and Him, we must follow him even to the cross…there is no safe distance for us”. Our women, he stated, will continue to cry. “Our society is paining; our society is looking for a way out; Jesus reminds us that we must serve each other…don’t simply stay at distance and look on…we must become involved.”
Tomorrow, many Christians will once again gather in their churches late in the evening and participate in midnight Masses, to usher in the most joyous festival for them, Easter Sunday. Bells will ring loudly at midnight signaling the end of the sad period of Lent, to one of joy. Churches will be decorated once more with fresh flowers and other decorations which were usually taken down during Lent.
Guyanese will take to the streets, skies and beaches on Easter Monday to fly their kites and spend time with their families and friends.
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