- Feb 5, 2002
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On the day that honors the Passion and death of Jesus, the Church abstains from offering a Mass.
One of the most fascinating days in the liturgical calendar is Good Friday. On the day that honors the Passion and death of Jesus, the Church abstains from offering a Mass.
St. Thomas Aquinas offers in his Summa Theologica one explanation as to why the Mass is not offered. He states that, “The figure [the Mass] ceases on the advent of the reality. But this sacrament is a figure and a representation of our Lord’s Passion, as stated above. And therefore on the day on which our Lord’s Passion is recalled as it was really accomplished, this sacrament is not consecrated.”
In this way we remember the reality of Jesus’ Passion, without celebrating the “figure” or “representation.”
Furthermore, the absence of the consecration of the bread and wine highlight the sorrow of Good Friday, as the Catholic News Agency points out.
The St. Andrew Daily Missal echoes what has already been written, explaining how “Good Friday is the anniversary of our Lord’s death. On this day, when on Calvary the bloodstained throne of the cross stands out before the world, the Church, bowed low in adoration before Him who reigns from the Cross, does not celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass; following an ancient practice, once widespread, she contents herself with receiving the sacred species consecrated yesterday.”
Continued below.
aleteia.org
One of the most fascinating days in the liturgical calendar is Good Friday. On the day that honors the Passion and death of Jesus, the Church abstains from offering a Mass.
No Mass
Instead, the Church instructs its believers to host a “Celebration of the Lord’s Passion,” which includes a special reading of the Gospel, the veneration of the cross and the distribution of Holy Communion from the reserved Sacrament.St. Thomas Aquinas offers in his Summa Theologica one explanation as to why the Mass is not offered. He states that, “The figure [the Mass] ceases on the advent of the reality. But this sacrament is a figure and a representation of our Lord’s Passion, as stated above. And therefore on the day on which our Lord’s Passion is recalled as it was really accomplished, this sacrament is not consecrated.”
In this way we remember the reality of Jesus’ Passion, without celebrating the “figure” or “representation.”
Furthermore, the absence of the consecration of the bread and wine highlight the sorrow of Good Friday, as the Catholic News Agency points out.
The St. Andrew Daily Missal echoes what has already been written, explaining how “Good Friday is the anniversary of our Lord’s death. On this day, when on Calvary the bloodstained throne of the cross stands out before the world, the Church, bowed low in adoration before Him who reigns from the Cross, does not celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass; following an ancient practice, once widespread, she contents herself with receiving the sacred species consecrated yesterday.”
Jewish Synagogue Service
Continued below.
Why is there no Mass and only a "service" on Good Friday?
The absence of a Mass highlights feelings of mourning and sadness and better prepares us for the glories that await us on Easter.
aleteia.org
