This day recalls the events of the day of the crucifixion of Jesus within the liturgy of Holy Week. What Is Celebrated On Good Friday?
Good Friday is the second day of the so-called Easter Triduum, the period of Holy Week during which the Catholic liturgy commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Specifically, Good Friday commemorates the death on the cross of the founder of Christianity.
According to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ died at the age of 33 and at 3 in the afternoon.
According to the Gospels, the high priests – the religious authorities of the time – conspired against Jesus of Nazareth because he proclaimed himself “the Son of God”; they considered him a “troublemaker”.
Jesus before Pilate
These authorities and their supporters decided to bring Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the fifth prefect of the Roman province of Judea between A.D. 26 and 36.
At first he saw no guilt in Him to condemn Him, but finally came under the pressure of a crowd crying out for His crucifixion.
According to Matthew’s Gospel, Pilate then washed his hands with water in the sight of the people, proclaiming himself “innocent of the blood of this righteous man.
This gesture of “washing one’s hands” is the origin of the expression that reaches to our days.
As it was customary to release a defendant for the Jewish feast of Passover, Pilate decided to release a well-known Barabbas, thus yielding to pressure from the demonstrators.
Despoiled, Humiliated and Mocked
Following the account of the Gospels, Jesus was stripped of his garments, which were drawn by lot, a crown of thorns was placed on his head, and he was beaten, spat upon, and mocked.
They made him carry his own Cross to a small mountain on the outskirts of Jerusalem called Golgotha, the place of the Calvary or of the skulls, due to the skull shape of the rocks on one of its slopes.
In Golgotha or Calvary was crucified between two thieves and under a sign that read “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews”, origin of the acronym and the expression INRI.
According to the Gospel of John, the pontiffs of the Jews protested to Pilate, asking him to change the wording by “he has said: I am the King of the Jews. But Pilate denied it with this famous reply: “The written, written is.
The Good Thief and the Bad Thief
According to Luke’s Gospel, one of the thieves crucified next to Jesus attacked him, saying: “If you are the Christ or the Messiah, save yourself and us”.
But the other crucified rebuked him, saying, “How can you not even fear God, being as you are in the same torment? We, the truth, are justly so, because we pay the penalty deserved for our crimes, but He has done nothing”. And he addressed Jesus: “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he replied: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.
According to an apocryphal gospel, this Good Thief is called Dimas.
San Dimas is the first saint of Christianity and its festivity is celebrated on March 25.
Last Words Before Dying
According to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, before dying Christ exclaimed with a “great” voice: “ELI, ELI, LAMMA SABACTHANI”, which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
According to St. Luke, just before he died he said: “My Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. According to St. John he said: “Everything is fulfilled”. And he died.
At this moment, according to the gospels, extraordinary things happened.
Matthew writes: “And immediately the veil of the temple was rent in two parts from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the stones broke. And the sepulchres were opened, and the bodies of many saints, who had died, were raised. And coming out of the sepulchres after the resurrection of Jesus, they came to the holy city and appeared to many.
Matthew and Mark pick up the expression of a Roman centurion who had attended the crucifixion: “Truly this man was the Son of God. Luke varies it slightly: “Truly this man was righteous. The feeling of those present was one of astonishment and sorrow. According to St. Luke, they came back, giving themselves “blows to the chest”.
The Tomb
Descended from the cross, the body of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, “illustrious person and senator” (Mark) claimed it from Pilate, who agreed to give it to him.
Joseph wrapped the Nazarene’s body in a sheet and placed it in an open tomb in a large rock, sealing the entrance with a large stone.
When at dawn on Sunday, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James went to embalm the body, they would no longer find him there. The stone was set aside and the body disappeared.
Good Friday recalls these events of the day of the death of Jesus Christ, who according to the teachings of the Catholic Church gave his body and shed his blood for the forgiveness of sins and for the salvation of men.
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