PARISH OF …
2018
S E R V I C E
FOR
G O O D F R I D A Y
Download >>> Good Friday 2018
One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water.
Gospel of John chapter 19, verse 34
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OPENING PRAYER Celebrant:
Remember your mercies, O Lord,
and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants,
for whom Christ your Son,
by the shedding of his Blood,
established the joy of Easter.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. R/. AMEN.
A READING FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 See, my servant will prosper, he shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights. As the crowds were appalled on seeing him _ so disfigured did he look that he seemed no longer human - so will the crowds be astonished at him, and kings stand speechless before him; for they shall see something never told and witness something never heard before: 'Who could belief what we have heard, and to whom has the power of the LORD been revealed?' Like a sapling he grew up in front of us, like a root in arid ground. Without beauty, without majesty (we saw him), no looks to attract our eyes; a thing despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, a man to make people screen their faces; he was despised and we took no account of man.
And yet ours were the sufferings he bore, our sorrows he carried. But we, we thought him as someone punished, struck by God, and brought low. Yet he was pierced through for our faults,
crushed for our sins. On him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each taking his own way, and the LORD burdened him with the sins of all of us. Harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly, he never opened his mouth, like a lamb that is lead to the slaughter-house, like a sheep that is dumb before its shearers, never opening its mouth. By force and by law he was taken; would anyone plead his cause? Yes, he was torn away from the land of the living; for our faults struck down in death. They gave him a grave among the wicked, a tomb with the rich, though he had done no wrong and there was no perjury in his mouth. The LORD has been pleased to crush him with suffering. If he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life and through him what the LORD wishes will be done.
When his soul’s anguish is over, he shall see the light and be content. By his suffering shall my servant justify many, taking their faults upon himself. Hence I will grant whole hordes for his tribute;
he shall divide the spoil with the mighty, for surrendering himself to death and letting himself be taken for a sinner, while he was bearing the faults of many and praying all the time for sinners.
The Word of the Lord.
Psalm [sung]
People: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Cantor: In you, O LORD, I take refuge. let me never be put to shame. In your justice, set me free. Into your hands I commend my spirit.
It is you who will redeem me, O LORD.
People: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Cantor: In the face of all my foes I am a reproach, an object of scorn to my neighbours
and of fear to my friends.
People: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Those who see me in the street run far away from me. I am like a dead man, forgotten in men's hearts, like a thing thrown away. People: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Cantor:
But as for me, I trust in you, O LORD. I say: 'You are my God'. My life is in your hands, deliver me from the hands of those who hate me. People: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Cantor:
Let your face shine on your servant. Save me in your love. Be strong, let your heart take courage, all who hope in the LORD. People: Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.
A READING FROM THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS Chapters 4:14-16 and 5:7-9
Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tested in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help. During his life on earth, he offers up prayers and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.
The Word of the LORD.
Gospel Acclamation: Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him on high and gave him the name which is above all names.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
First Reader:
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO JOHN
Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kedron Valley. There was a garden there, and he went into it with his disciples. Judas the traitor knew the place well, since Jesus had often met his disciples there, and he brought the cohort to this place together with a detachment of guards sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees, all with lanterns and torches and weapons. Knowing every-thing that was going to happen to him, Jesus then came forward and said, 'Who are you looking for?' They answered, 'Jesus the Nazarene'. He said, 'I am he'. Now Judas the traitor was standing among them. When Jesus said, 'I am he', they moved back and fell to the ground. He asked them a second time, 'Who are you looking for?' They said, 'Jesus the Nazarene'. Jesus replied, 'I have told you that I am he. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go.' This was to fulfill the words he had spoken: 'Not one of those you gave me have I lost'. Simon Peter, who carried a sword, drew it and wounded the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, 'Put your sword back in its scabbard; am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?' The cohort and its captain and the Jewish guards seized Jesus and bound him. They took him first to Annas, because Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had suggested to the Jews, 'It is better for one man to die for the people'.
People: Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, Oh, Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
First Intercession Celebrant: Let us pray, dearly beloved, for the holy Church of God,
That our God and Lord be pleased to give her peace,
To guard her and to unite her throughout the whole world
And grant that, leading our life in tranquility and quiet,
We may glorify God the Father almighty.
[silent prayer] Almighty ever-living God,
who in Christ revealed your glory to all the nations,
watch over the works of mercy,
that your Church, spread throughout all the world,
may persevere with steadfast faith in confessing your name.
Through Christ our Lord.
R./ Amen.
Response:
O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us. Taizé Chant
Second Reader:
Simon Peter, with another disciple, followed Jesus. This disciple, who was known to the High Priest, went with Jesus into the high priest's palace, but Peter stayed outside the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the High Priest, went out, spoke to the woman who was keeping the door and brought Peter in. The maid on duty at the door said to Peter, 'Aren't you another of this man's disciples?' He answered, 'I am not'. Now it was cold, and the servants and guards had lit a charcoal fire and were standing there warming themselves; so Peter stood there too, warming himself with the others.
People: Were you there when his friend denied the Lord? Were you there when his friend denied his Lord?
Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when his friend denied his Lord?
Second Intercession Celebrant: Let us pray for our most Holy Father Pope Francis that our God and Lord, who chose him for the Order of Bishops,
may keep him safe and unharmed for the Lord’s holy Church,
to govern the holy People of God. [silent prayer]
Almighty and ever-living God,
by whose decree all things are founded,
look with favour on our prayers
and in your kindness protect the Pope chosen for us,
that under him,
the Christian people,
governed by you, their Maker,
may grow in merit by reason of their faith.
Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen.
Response:
O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us.
Third Reader:
The High Priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly for all the world to hear; I have always taught in the synagogue and in the Temple where all Jews meet together: I have said nothing in secret. But why ask me? Ask my hearers what I taught: they know what I said.” At these words, one of the guards standing by gave Jesus a slap in the face, saying, “Is that the way to answer the High Priest?” Jesus replied, “If there is anything wrong in what I said, point it out; but if there is no offence in it, why do you hit me?” Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas, the High Priest.
People: Were you there when they slapped him in the face? Were you there when they slapped him in the face?
Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they slapped him in the face? Third Intercession: Celebrant: Let us pray for our Bishop N… for all bishops, priests, and deacons of the Church; and for the whole of the faithful people.
[silent prayer] Almighty God ever-living God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is sanctified and governed,
Hear our humble prayer for our ministers,
that by the gift of your grace,
all may serve you faithfully. Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen
Response:
O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us.
Fourth Reader:
As Simon Peter stood there warming himself, someone said to him, “Aren't you another of his disciples?” He denied it, saying, “I am not”. One of the High Priest's servants, a relation of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn't I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it - and the cock crew.
They led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was now morning. They did not go into the Praetorium themselves or they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out side to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They replied, “If he were not a criminal, we should not be handing him over to you". Pilate said, “Take him yourselves, and try him by your own Law". The Jews answered, 'We are not allowed to put a man to death'. This was to fulfill the words Jesus had spoken indicating the way he was going to die.
So Pilate went back into the Praetorium and called Jesus to him, and asked, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus replied, 'Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?' Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew?' It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me; what have you done?' Jesus replied, 'Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent me being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.' Pilate said, 'So you are a king then?' Jesus answered, "It is you who say it. Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this; to bear witness to the truth, and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice”. Pilate said, “Truth? What is that?”
People: Were you there when they crucified our King? Were you there when they crucified our King? Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified our King?
Fourth Intercession
Celebrant:
Let us pray for (our) catechumens,
that our Lord and God
may open wide the ears of their inmost hearts
and unlock the gates of his mercy,
that, having received forgiveness of all their sins
through the waters of rebirth,
they, too, may be one in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[silent prayer]
Almighty ever-living God,
who make your Church ever fruitful with new offspring,
increase the faith and understanding of (our) catechumens,
that, reborn in the font of Baptism,
they may be added to the number of your adopted children.
Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen.
Response: O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us.
Fifth Reader:
Pilate went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no case against him. But according to a custom of yours I should release one prisoner at the Passover; would you like me, then, to release the King of the Jews?” At this they shouted: “Not this man, but Barabbas”. Barabbas was a robber.
Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged; and after this, the soldiers twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
Pilate came outside again and said to them, “Look, I am going to bring him out to you to let you see that I find no case against him.” Jesus then came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said, “Here is the man”. When they saw him the chief priests and the guards shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said, “Take him away yourselves and crucify him: I can find no cause against him.” The Jews replied, “We have a law, and according to the Law he ought to die because he claimed to be the Son of God”. When Pilate heard them say this, his fears increased. Re-entering the Praetorium, he said to Jesus, “Where do you come from?” But Jesus made no answer. Pilate then said to him, ‘
“Are you refusing to speak to me? Surely you know I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus replied, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given you from above; that is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater guilt”. From that moment Pilate was anxious to set him free.
People: Were you there when they crowned his head with thorns? Were you there when they crowned his head with thorns?
Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crowned him his head with thorns?
Fifth Intercession
Celebrant:
Let us pray for all our brothers and sisters
who believe in Christ,
that our God and Lord may be pleased,
as they live the truth,
to gather them and keep them in his one Church.
[silent prayer]
Almighty ever-living God,
who gather what is scattered
and keep together what you have gathered,
look kindly on the flock of your Son,
that those whom one Baptism has consecrated
may be joined together by integrity of faith
and united in the bond of charity.
Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen.
Response O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us.
Sixth Reader:
The Jews shouted, ‘If you set him free you are no friend of Caesar’s; anyone who makes himself a king is defying Caesar”. Hearing these words, Pilate had Jesus brought out, and seated himself on the chair of judgment at a place called the Pavement, in Hebrew Gabbatha. It was Passover Preparation Day, about the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They said, “Take him away. Crucify him!” Pilate said, “Do you want me to crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no King only Caesar’. So in the end Pilate handed him over to be crucified.
People: Were you there when they crucified our King? Were you there when they crucified our King?
Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified our King?
Sixth Intercession Celebrant:
Let us pray for the Jewish people,
to whom the Lord our God spoke first,
that he may grant them to advance in love of his name
and in faithfulness to his covenant.
[silent prayer]
Almighty ever-living God,
who bestowed your promises on Abraham and his descendants,
graciously hear the prayers of your Church,
that the people you first made your own
may attain the fullness of redemption.
Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen.
Response O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us.
[The Service now moves to the Adoration of the Cross.]
ADORATION OF THE CROSS
Celebrant: This is the wood of the Cross, on which hung
the Saviour of the world! (3) Response: Come, let us worship him! (3)
Celebrant:
Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
as we honour the Holy Cross
on which your beloved Son
died that we might live,
we call to mind all of our families and friends
who have gone before us.
Help us to understand and to rejoice
that through the death of our Lord Jesus
those we love,
are united with him,
and are safe with you in
your heavenly home.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. R./ Amen.
[The congregation reverences the cross.]
Suggested Chants and Hymns as appropriate
1. Jesus, remember us when you come into your kingdom.
2. Choir: Reproaches [New Missal, p.192-194]
3. When I survey the wondrous Cross
4. O sacred head sore wounded
5. When I survey the wondrous Cross
Seventh Reader:
They then took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out of the city to the place called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him with two thieves, one on either side with Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote out a notice and had it fixed to the cross; it ran: ‘Jesus of Nazarene, King of the Jews’. This notice was read by many Jews because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city, and the writing was in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the Jewish chief priests said to Pilate, ‘You should not write, ‘King of the Jews’, but ‘This man said: ‘I am King of the Jews’. Pilate answered, ‘ What I have written, I have written’. People: Were you there when they nailed him to a tree? Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?
Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?
Seventh Intercession
Celebrant:
Let us pray for those in public office,
that our God and Lord may direct their minds and hearts
according to his will
for the true peace and freedom of all.
[silent prayer]
Almighty ever-living God,
in whose hand lies every human heart
and the rights of peoples,
look with favour, we pray,
on those who govern with authority over us,
that throughout the whole world,
the prosperity of peoples,
the assurance of peace, and the freedom of religion
may through your gift be made secure.
Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen.
[All kneel]
Response: O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us.
Eight Reader:
When the soldiers had finished crucifying Jesus they took his clothing and divided it into four shares, one for each soldier. His undergarment was seamless, woven in one piece from neck to hem; so they said to one another, ‘Instead of tearing it, let’s throw dice to decide who is to have it’. In this way the words of Scripture were fulfilled:
They shared my clothing among them.
They cast lots for my clothes.
This is exactly what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son’. Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother’. And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.
After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed, and to fulfill the scripture perfectly he said: ‘I thirst’. A jar full of vinegar stood there, so putting a sponge soaked in vinegar on a hyssop stick they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the vinegar he said, ‘It is accomplished”. And bowing down his head he gave up the spirit.
People: Were you there when he bowed his head and died?
Were you there when he bowed his head and died?
Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he bowed his head and died?
[All kneel]
HOLY COMMUNION
As the altar is readied for the Service of Communion,
People: Soul of my Saviour or other appropriate hymn.
Celebrant: Our Father … Lamb of God … Holy Communion
[Appropriate hymns during Communion by choir and people]
After Communion
Ninth Reader:
It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the Sabbath – since that Sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found that he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water. This is the evidence of one who saw it—trustworthy evidence—and he knows he speaks the truth—and he gives it so that you may believe as well. Because all this happened to fulfill the words of Scripture:
Not one bone of his will be broken.
And again, in another place Scripture says: They will look on him whom they have pierced.
People: Were you there when the blood and water flowed?
Were you there when the blood and water flowed? Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when the blood and water flowed?
Ninth Intercession
Celebrant:
Let us pray, dearly beloved,
to God the Father almighty,
that he may cleanse the world of all errors,
banish disease, drive out hunger,
unlock prisons, loosen fetters,
granting to travellers safety, to pilgrims return,
health to the sick, and salvation to the dying.
[silent prayer]
Almighty ever-living God
comfort of mourners, strength of all who toil,
may the prayers of those who cry out in any tribulation
come before you,
that all may rejoice,
because in their hour of need
your mercy is at hand.
Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen.
Response:
O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us.
Tenth Reader:
After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus—though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jews—asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission, so they came and took it away. Nicodemus came as well—the same one who had first come to Jesus at during the night—and he brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with spices in linen cloths, following the Jewish burial custom. At the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been buried. Since it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the tomb was near at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh, Oh, Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Celebrant:
Let us pray:
Almighty ever-living God,
who have restored us to life
by the blessed Death and Resurrection of your Christ,
preserve in us the work of your mercy,
that by partaking of this mystery,
we may have a life unceasingly devoted to you.
Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen.
May abundant blessing, O Lord, we pray,
descend upon your people,
who have honoured the Death of your Son
in the hope of their resurrection:
may pardon come,
comfort be given,
holy faith increase,
and everlasting redemption be made secure.
Through Christ our Lord. R./ AMEN
~O~ ~O~ ~O~
ALL DEPART IN SILENCE
Maran’ata : Come, Lord Jesus.
You will receive a candle as you depart.
Please bring it to the Easter Vigil
or to
Easter Sunday Mass
to light it
in welcome to the Risen Lord.
~O~ ~O~ ~O~
Homily Suggestion
“The blood and water” of John 19:34 have been variously and endlessly interpreted. For a discussion of the various possibilities, see,
Raymond E. Brown, The Gospel according to John, Vol II, pp.948-952. The commentaries of C. K.Barrett and Rudolf Schnackenburg are equally informative.
Preaching is hardly necessary on Good Friday. But a homily taking the water and blood to refer to Baptism and Eucharist could suggest that we are (symbolically) born into the death of Jesus in the waters of Baptism and fed on our way to eternal destiny by the Eucharist. Thus Good Friday gives us life by Jesus being robbed of his. That is why of all Fridays it rightly called Good.
Reverend Dr Joseph O’Hanlon.
January, 2018