Good Friday

===Liturgy===
[[File:Karfreitag - Fürbitten.jpg|thumb|The Great Intercessions are sung at [[Heiligenkreuz Abbey]], Austria]]

The Good Friday liturgy consists of three parts: the [[Liturgy of the Word]], the Veneration of the Cross, and the [[Holy Communion]].
* The Liturgy of the Word consists of the clergy and assisting ministers entering in complete silence, without any singing. They then silently make a full [[prostration]]. This signifies the abasement ([[Fall of man|the fall]]) of (earthly) humans.<ref>''Roman Missal'', "Good Friday", Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, n. 5.</ref> It also symbolizes the grief and sorrow of the Church.<ref>''Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts'', [http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/6/SubIndex/97/ContentIndex/325/Start/319 V. Good Friday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101832/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/6/SubIndex/97/ContentIndex/325/Start/319 |date=2 April 2015 }}, 16 January 1988, Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship.</ref> Then follows the [[Collect]] prayer, and the reading or chanting of Isaiah 52:13–53:12, Hebrews 4:14–16, Hebrews 5:7–9, and the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]] account from the [[Gospel of John]], traditionally divided between three deacons,<ref>Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, ''Paschale Solemnitatis'', III, n. 66 (cf. n. 33)</ref> yet usually read by the celebrant and two other readers. In the older form of the Mass known as the [[Tridentine Mass]] the readings for Good Friday are taken from Exodus 12:1-11 and the Gospel according to St. John (John 18:1-40); (John 19:1-42).
* The Great Intercessions also known as ''orationes sollemnes'' immediately follows the Liturgy of the Word and consists of a series of prayers for the Church, the Pope, the clergy and laity of the Church, those preparing for baptism, the unity of Christians, the Jews, those who do not believe in Christ, those who do not believe in God, those in public office, and those in special need.<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 7–13.</ref> After each prayer intention, the deacon calls the faithful to kneel for a short period of private prayer; the celebrant then sums up the prayer intention with a Collect-style prayer. As part of the pre-1955 Holy Week Liturgy, the kneeling was omitted only for the [[Good Friday prayer for the Jews|prayer for the Jews]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/04/compendium-of-1955-holy-week-revisions_03.html|title=Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions|language=en|access-date=6 April 2020|archive-date=21 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821081851/https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/04/compendium-of-1955-holy-week-revisions_03.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The Adoration of the Cross has a [[crucifix]], not necessarily the one that is normally on or near the altar at other times of the year, solemnly unveiled and displayed to the congregation, and then venerated by them, individually if possible and usually by kissing the wood of the cross, while hymns and the [[Improperia]] ("Reproaches") with the [[Trisagion]] hymn are chanted.<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 14–21.</ref>
* Holy Communion is bestowed according to a rite based on that of the final part of Mass, beginning with the [[Lord's Prayer]], but omitting the ceremony of "[[Fraction (religion)|Breaking of the Bread]]" and its related acclamation, the [[Agnus Dei (liturgy)|Agnus Dei]]. The [[Eucharist]], consecrated at the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on [[Maundy Thursday|Holy Thursday]], is distributed at this service.<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 22–31.</ref> Before the Holy Week reforms of [[Pope Pius XII]] in 1955, only the priest received Communion in the framework of what was called the [[Mass of the Presanctified]], which included the usual Offertory prayers, with the placing of wine in the chalice, but which omitted the [[Canon of the Mass]].<ref name="auto"/> The priest and people then depart in silence, and the altar cloth is removed, leaving the altar bare except for the crucifix and two or four candlesticks.<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 32–33.</ref>