Christians Reflect On Good Friday In Anticipation Of Easter's Hope And Joy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -There was a sense of moving from the darkness of Good Friday to the light of Easter morning during a three hour service inside Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
Earlier, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan spoke with WCBS 880's Rich Lamb and said Good Friday, the day Christians around the world commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, was the day love was seemingly defeated by hate.
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"Good Friday, of course, ironically we call it good. In a way, we could call it 'Bad Friday' because the worst thing ever happened, the death of the son of God, but good came from it, namely Easter - life, resurrection, light," said Dolan.
CBS 2's Magee Hickey spoke with churchgoers outside St. Patrick's Cathedral asking why Good Friday was called good.
"To think about all the good things in our lives. Sacrafices people have made for us, that are making for us overseas right now, defending us. People fighting for us so that we can worship any religion we see fit," Jim Cowan said.
"Good is that he is going to go and rise. That's what is good. That's why it's not called 'bad Friday.' He's going to rise," another woman said.
Dolan described Good Friday as "the most solemn day for year" for Catholics and Christians.
"It's the one day of the year we don't have mass. We don't have the Eucharist on Good Friday. So, we had it the night before - Holy Thursday - and then we won't have to the Easter vigil, which is late Saturday night," Dolan said.
Why is there no mass on Good Friday?
"It's almost as if we are honoring the death of Jesus. We're somberly recalling the death of Jesus," said Dolan.
Dolan said, for him, the highlight of what is called the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion is the thousands of people who walk up to kiss the cross.
"It's very moving. Some people are in tears. It's a real incorporation into the mystery of the cross," says Dolan. "And then we close down. The altar is stripped. The tabernacle is empty. We close down because Jesus is in the tomb."
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And for those who don't make any religious observances on Good Friday, The Mission Youth of Regnum Christi carried a large, wooden cross outside the cathedral. Catholic Missionary Brother Daniel Rolczynski said the group wanted to remind people that "this is the day Jesus died for all of us."
The group also asked people passing by the area if there were any intentions that they could pray for. Those prayer requests were then nailed to the cross.
"My intention is for my health and my family's health," Rosalie Rodriguez said.
"That my family recreate itself and that my children come to Jesus Christ," another woman said.
Dolan said for the faithful, goodness came from the supreme evil - the victory of life over death, light over darkness, mercy over sin.
"God always has the last word. Life triumphs death, that's what these celebrations are all about," Dolan said.
This year, Holy Week coincides with the Jewish holiday Passover.
