I have memories of Good Friday services as a child. When I spoke of them to my 15 year old yesterday, he was flabbergasted. I told him of a service at church that went from noon until 3 pm. Number six could not fathom being in church for three hours. He asked just what went on for three hours. There were readings and songs and reflections. Number six could not fathom the length of time. He was almost at a loss for words.
Now we have what my family does on Good Friday. We go to church. We – well, this year it was at least me as no one wanted to go with me the second time – go twice.
Friday afternoon at 3 pm,the time it is believed that Christ died, we were in church for reading of The Passion of Jesus Christ, Veneration of the Cross and a communion service. I cannot tell you how many times I had to correct my Catholic children on the fact that this was not a Mass. I could understand if they were young. They may still be having difficulty with the idea of consecration but all six of them have been confirmed. Yet, several of the four who are home kept using the term mass. No consecration of the hosts on Good Friday, no Mass. Just a communion service. All the consecration was done on Holy Thursday.
Even my 19 year old had some issues with Veneration of the Cross. This is a hard one for me to explain. I do not recall it ever being explained to me so I had to figure out a way to explain. I went, as I frequently do, to the dictionary to explain what venerate means – to show respect, to revere. That explained a bit of the service to the 19 year old. For those of you who are not Catholic or who have never been to Veneration of the Cross, all in attendance are invited to come forward and pay respect to a cross that the priest has carried in from the back of the church. This respect can be paid in many ways – genuflecting, bowing. Some will even kiss the cross, though in this day of flu warnings still ongoing not many.
Then, tonight came Stations of the Cross. In the past, we had, at my church anyway, always done a Mary’s Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. I have even been the reader in these stations which are, number one, backwards and, number two, told from Mary’s, the mother of Jesus, point of view. These words and Stations – while not totally different – bring me to tears every year.
This year’s Stations were different. The church had purchased a book written by a priest in Camillus, New York – Stations of the Cross with Pope John Paul II. As the book says in the introduction, Pope John Paul II – just as an aside, I was in Toronto at World Youth Day in 2002 and had the privilege of hearing Pope John Paul II – led worshipers around the Roman Coliseum on Good Friday in 1991 and did his own version of Stations of the Cross. All the stations are Gospel-based. And, Pope John Paul II added a 15th station – Jesus rising from the dead. I am leaning towards saying these may be my all time favorite Stations as I truly believe we are a people of the risen Christ as Christians. That 15th station just calls to me.
Nicki's Nook 
I was always fascinated by the Stations of the Cross as a kid. My family traveled a lot and my mother always made sure we attended Mass wherever we went. I often spent Mass looking at the stations on the wall of the church and comparing them to the ones on the wall in our home parish.
I do that also, Kristen. My church as a child did not have stations on the walls but stained glass at where each station would appear if it were a Catholic church. I would love to get back in there and take some photos.
My daughter saw the church this morning during choir rehearsal for Easter Vigil. She says it is beautiful. I cannot wait to get there to take pictures. I have been absolutely amazed at the way the new pastor has asserted himself in the decoration aspect of the church on big holidays.