In Part II of a three day liturgy, we experience the Passion of Christ and conclude with a simple Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. Perhaps the most profound liturgy of the year.

How long is the Good Friday service?
On average the Good Friday liturgy lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes

Is it like a Sunday service?
No, not really. On Good Friday the choir, acolyte, and priest enter in silence. You’ll notice that they are all vested in plain black cassocks - robe-like vestments that go to the floor. There is a choral introit and an opening prayer and then we hear lessons from the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Then, instead of standing and hearing the Gospel read aloud, we are seated and the Passion Gospel is chanted by members of the Choir. After a brief homily (sermon), the Solemn Collects are prayed. These prayers, said only on Good Friday, are comprehensive and honest, at times brutally so. Then follows an invitation to come forward for the Veneration of the Cross. Here again, it is important to say that no one is required to come forward. Veneration is a solemn act. Some people choose to kneel in front of the cross, others stand and bow their heads, still others make a deep bow. There is no right or wrong way to express the complex spiritual and emotional reactions human beings have to the cross of Jesus. The service concludes with Holy Communion from the sacrament that was consecrated on Maundy Thursday, as Good Friday is the only day of the year that priests are prohibited from celebrating the Mass. We leave in silence again, still with no dismissal, as this liturgy is not yet complete - we return the next night for the final act.

Service music:

Eddie Spear Newly Commissioned piece for Choir and Cello
GP da Palestrina In parasceve, Lectio III (Lamentationes)
Anna Thorvaldsdottir Þann heilaga kross
Zachary Wadsworth The Passion according to St. John