To read a meditation on Good Friday, click here .

Prayers (traditional language)

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

O merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all who know thee not as thou art revealed in the gospel of thy Son. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy fold, that they may be made one flock under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of love on the hard wood of the Cross that everyone might come within the reach of thy saving embrace: So clothe us in thy Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know thee to the knowledge and love of thee; for the honor of thy Name.

O God of unchangeable power and eternal might: Look favorably upon thy whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of thy providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray thee to set thy passion, cross, and death between thy judgement and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to thy holy Church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, now and for ever.

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified; Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Merciful God, Creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, who stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the Cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring others to know you and love you; for the honor of your Name.

O God of unchangeable power and eternal might: Look favorably upon your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death between your judgement and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy Church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
("He was wounded for our transgressions.... With his stripes we are healed.")

alternate First Reading: Genesis 22:1-18
(Abraham offers up Isaac.)

alternate First Reading: Wisdom 2:1,12-24

They said to themselves in their deluded way:

"Our life is short and full of trouble, and when a man comes to his end there is no remedy; no man was ever known to return from the grave....

"Let us lay a trap for the just man; he stands in our way, a check to us at every turn; he girds at us as law-breakers, and calls us traitors to our upbringing. He knows God, so he says; he styles himself "the servant of the Lord". He is a living condemnation of all our ideas. The very sight of him is an affliction to us, because his life is not like other people's, and his ways are different. He rejects us like base coin, and avoids us and our ways as if we were filth; he says that the just die happy, and boasts that God is his father. Let us test the truth of his words, let us see what will happen to him in the end; for if the just man is God's son, God will stretch out a hand to him and save him from the clutches of his enemies. Outrage and torment are the means to try him with, to measure his forbearance and learn how long his patience lasts. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for on his own showing he will have a protector."

So they argued, and very wrong they were; blinded by their own malevolence, they did not understand God's hidden plan; they never expected that holiness of life would have its own recompense; they thought that innocence had no reward. But God created man for immortality, and made him the image of his own eternal self; it was the devil's spite that brought death into the world, and the experience of it is reserved for those who take his side.

Psalm 22:1-21 (or 22:1-11)
("My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ... they pierced my hands and my feet.... They parted my garments among them, and cast lots for my clothing.")

alternate Psalm 40:1-14
(A psalm of trust in God and submission to His will, applied to Christ in Hebrews 10:4-10.)

alternate Psalm 69:1-23
("...when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.")

Epistle: Hebrews 10:1-25
(The sacrifices commanded in the Law of Moses were only a hint of the sacrifice of Christ, who is both the Eternal High Priest and the Spotless Offering.)

The Holy Gospel: John (18:1-40) 19:1-37
(The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ as narrated by John, beginning with (the arrest in Gethsemane, continuing with the hearings before Annas and Caiaphas,) the trial before Pilate, and the Crucifixion, and ending with the account of His Death.)

See for yourself!