Our journey through Holy Week nears its conclusion. This afternoon, we gather in St Peter’s for the Good Friday Liturgy, in which we recall the drama of the Passion and commemorate Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. During this deeply moving service, we will listen to the words of Passion Gospel, meditating on the Good Friday story. Everyone is invited to venerate the Cross, when we kneel before the wooden crucifix as a symbol of our devotion, while the choir sings the Reproaches, an ancient series of antiphons which evoke Christ’s suffering. We also receive Holy Communion of “one kind” – the bread that was consecrated at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday. All are welcome at St Peter’s on this holy day.
O Tree of beauty, Tree of light,
O Tree with royal purple dight,
Elect on whose triumphal breast
Those holy limbs should find their rest!
– Venantius Fortunatus, 6th C
