Udupi: Good Friday commemorating the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary was observed with great devotion by huge faithful at Milagres Cathedral, Kallinapur of Udupi Diocese on Friday, April 19, 2019.
The Good Friday service and liturgy was divided into four parts. The first part comprised of the reading from Scriptures including the Passion of the Lord according to the Gospel of St John, Prayers for the Intentions of the Church, Veneration of the Cross and the Holy Communion.
At the outset, Bishop of Udupi Diocese Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Very Rev Fr. DR. Lawrence C. D’Souza, Rector of the Cathedral, Rev Fr. Canute Noronha, Asst. parish priest of Milagres, Rev Fr. Lancy Fernandes SJ, Principal of Milagres English Medium Schools and Rev Fr. Jossy Mascarenhas, Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur, came in procession at the start of the liturgy and prostrated in front of the bare alter for a minute.
Following the initial scripture readings, the passion of the Christ was animated from the Gospel of St John by Rev Fr. Lancy Fernandes as a narrator, Rev Fr. Canute Noronha as a Jesus, Rev Fr. Jossy Mascarenhas as Peter, Nelson Lewis as Pilate and choir members as other characters in the Gospel and as crowd.
In his Good Friday homily, Rev Fr. Lancy Fernandes pointed out the meaning of Cross and its importance. The Cross is something important. We should truly believe that the Cross should mean life and not just death, hope and not just fear, engagement and not withdrawal. Cross is the sign of hope and Cross is sign of Love and is ladder to heaven.
He said “indeed due to the Cross Christianity is born and still existing. He pointed out the significance of Good Friday. Good Friday is the day of sacrifice. It is the day given by God for salvation and moreover Good Friday is the day of blessed one”.
“The Cross is the sign of salvation and it is the strong tool for love. Cross is the sign of forgiveness and it is giving meaning during the difficulties. It is also sign of blessing. Cross is the sign of God and Cruelty. The cross is a sign of God’s love for humankind; it is a symbol of the power of God who made himself sin to heal us. Salvation comes only from the cross, from this cross where God was made flesh. There is no salvation in ideas; there is no salvation in good will, in wanting to be good,” he said.
“The Cross is a great contradiction. Death and life, hate and love, violence and peace, accusation and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokenness and wholeness, all is lost yet everything is gained, destruction and restoration, defeat and victory. Once the cruelest form of execution, yet now it is a symbol of abundant life”.
“The Cross is willful humility. Christ’s death was an act of his will. Jesus came to the conclusion to die for humanity as a human. He willed his flesh, mind and emotions to die on the Cross. Jesus could choose to live as he pleased, but he chose to give his life for our sake,” he said.
Soon after the homily, Bishop Gerald and Fr. Lawrence recited prayers for the various intentions of the Church.
The General Intercessions conclude the Liturgy of the Word. The ten intercessions cover these areas: for the Church, for the Pope, for the clergy and laity of the Church, for those preparing for Baptism, for the unity of Christians, for the Jewish people, for those who do not believe in Christ, for those who do not believe in God, for all in public office and for those in special need.
As the third part of the Good Friday, Rev Fr. Canute Noronha brought the shrouded Crucifix to the main alter of the Cathedral where Bishop unveiled it in three phases and paid respect through kneeling and kissing the Crucifix. This was followed by paying respect to the Crucifix by the priests and huge faithful.
As the last part of the service, Holy Communion was distributed by Bishop, four priests and seven laymen. Good Friday is an important event in the Christianity which represents the sacrifices and suffering of Jesus life. The Crucification was culmination of a number of events in the Holy Week including Jesus triumphal return to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and Jesus last supper on Maundy Thursday.
After the end of Good Friday liturgy, the solemn procession with the statue of Jesus around street of College Road, Kallianpur main road and cathedral campus was held with participation of huge number of faithful. With the completion of Good Friday, Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Easter Vagil begins on Saturday at 7 PM onwards at Milagres Cathedral campus.
Christians all over the world observed the Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday proceeding Easter Sunday. Good Friday also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Black Friday or Easter Friday as well.
