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“I Am the Way…”

Good Friday

On Good Friday, through the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and Death, we are invited to remember Christ’s sufferings. The day commemorates Christ’s conquering of death through his passion and resurrection, thereby opening the gates of heaven for each of us.

Unfortunately, attendance at the Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and Death has been in decline in many parts of our country.

In our busy lives, it is all too easy to look away from the harsh reality that Christ bore on the Cross for us. However, our faith and that of our families and parishes are strengthened when we take the time to attend the Good Friday liturgy.

As Archbishop Fulton Sheen put it: “Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.”

As we enter the Lenten season, every council is asked to encourage brother Knights and their families to attend the Good Friday liturgy in their parish on March 30. Let your parishes know of the liturgy’s importance and how its commemoration can strengthen each family as a domestic church.

Here are some things your council can do to promote attendance at the Good Friday liturgy:

• Display the “By Your Holy Cross” poster around your council meeting place, in the church vestibule (with the pastor’s permission) and at other gathering spots around the parish.

• A digital 8.5x11 version of the poster is also available in PDF format. This may be downloaded and distributed after Palm Sunday Mass or used as an insert in your parish bulletin. Be sure to fill in the time for your parish’s liturgy in the available space provided on the PDF.

• Promote the Catholic Information Service booklets Jesus Christ (#105) and Christ: Lord and Savior (#358) to your council members and fellow parishioners. Purchase a supply of each that can be given out to interested parishioners. Christ: Lord and Savior offers contemplations on who Jesus Christ truly is. The booklet Jesus Christ examines what distinguishes Christianity from all other religions, exploring Christ’s Incarnation, Resurrection and more. Both of these booklets can be ordered by visiting kofc.org/cis, or they may be downloaded as PDFs at no cost. The booklet Jesus Christ (#105) is also available as an MP3 audio file.

 

• Partner with the parish to help lead a Stations of Cross liturgy on Good Friday before or after the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and Death. If your parish doesn't already pray the Stations together, ask your pastor if he would consider adding it to the parish calendar. The prayers, mediations and hymns for the devotion can be found in The Way of the Cross: Traditional and Modern Meditations (#363), available online at kofc.org/cis. Copies can be ordered here.