“Good Friday, the second day of the Triduum, is the solemn remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross. The name “Good Friday” is a corruption of “God’s Friday,” although the term is a very fitting one since the Lord’s death was for our eternal good. ”
“In spite of the solemnity of Good Friday worship, it is not by any means a funeral service for Jesus. It is rather a time of quiet and serious contemplation on His great saving work.” a
O painful, painful, painful day!
My Lord, my flesh, my son;
the breath of life you breathed away,
was life in God now won.
The pain of birth you chose to make
a sign of God’s new life.
So for God’s Kingdom you now take
the pain, the curse, the knife.
“Here is your son”, you said to me,
“Mother”, to one well loved.
Disciples all, we are to be,
in grief and love embraced.
O painful, painful, painful day!
That joy through tears may come,
I do believe, and hope to say,
when you have led me home.
© David Beswick, 1997
