Roman Catholic Christians treat Good Friday as a fast day, which is defined as only having one full meal or two small ones. It is not a day of abstention from work however; people work until shortly before the beginning of the afternoon service.
The
Catholic Good Friday in the Roman Rite afternoon service -
held around 3 p.m., the time Christ is said in the bible
to have died, in those countries where Good Friday is a
public holiday - involves a series of readings and
meditations, as well as the (sung) reading of the Passion
account from the Gospel of John which is often read
dramatically, with the priest, one or more readers, and
the congregation all taking part. In the traditional Latin
liturgy, the Passion is read by the priest facing the
altar, with three deacons chanting in the sanctuary facing
the people.
Unlike Roman Catholic services on other days, the Good Friday service is not a Mass, and in fact, celebration of Catholic Mass on Good Friday is forbidden; unlike the Eastern Churches, the feast of the Annunciation is moved to the week after easter if it should fall on Good Friday. Eucharist consecrated the night before (Maundy Thursday) may be distributed (otherwise, it is only available as viaticum for the dying). The violet draping is removed from the Crucifix with the people given an opportunity to venerate it. The services also include a long series of formal intercessions.
The
solemnity and somberness of the occasion has led to a
phenomenon whereby in the course of history the liturgical
provisions have a tendency to persist without substantial
modification, even over the centuries (Anton Baumstark).
In some countries, such as Malta,
Italy
and Spain, processions with statues representing the
Passion of Christ are held.
In Polish culture a tableau of Christ's Tomb is unveiled in the sanctuary. Many of the faithful spend long hours into the night grieving at the Tomb, where it is customary to kiss the wounds on the Lord's body. A life-size figure of Christ lying in His tomb is widely visited by the faithful, especially on Holy Saturday. The tableaux may include flowers, candles, figures of angels standing watch, the three crosses atop Mt. Calvary and much more. Each parish strives to come up with the most artistically and religiously evocative arrangement in which the Blessed Sacrament, draped in a filmy veil, is prominently displayed.
