Holy Thursday and Good Friday – A Few Highly Important Catholic Christian Feasts
Many Christians are familiar with Christmas and Easter, but there are a lot of other important holy days also. While I cannot discuss all of them here, I want to highlight 2 feasts that fall back to back to each other: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Both are significant in the Catholic Church because they commemorate 2 extremely important events in the life of Jesus Christ and truths that affect our salvation. It is a bad idea to brush off these 2 hallowed and classic holy days. I am wondering here, are you pondering Good Friday Meaning?
First, let us discuss Maundy Thursday. It is a holiday that falls in the Thursday in Holy Week, which is also the Thursday prior to Easter Sunday. Also known as Holy Thursday, the Church commemorates the institution of the Eucharist on this day, as well as the establishment of the sacrament of ordination. It was on this night, almost two thousand years in the past, that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his followers. On this night, he identified the the Eucharistic elements with his holy body and blood, and said “do this in memory of me.” He also cleaned his disciples’ feet at that dinner, a tradition the Catholic Church retains during its current including Holy Thursday worship services. Jesus also instituted a new command, for us to love each other as he has loved us. This is the “mandate” that Maundy Thursday is named after. Holy Thursday also inaugurates the period called the Triduum, which ends on Easter. As you are able to see, this is an notable day in the , because it commemorates the institution of the sacrament of Our lord’s body and blood, and the sacrament that preserves the apostolic authority of the students of The Lord!
Second, let’s recall Good Friday. It falls on the Friday before Easter, and commemorates the final happenings in the life of Jesus Christ, his suffering, and death. It was on this Friday that Christ gave his life for the our sins. He hung upon the cross, surrounded by 2 common criminals, bloodied, suffering, and left alone by his closest disciples.The process by which he traveled to his place of death, and his final moments of suffering and death are recalled in the devotion of the stations of the cross, often used on Good Friday. This holiday is also a fast day in the Church. That signifies that Catholics are expected to eat only one complete meal, as well as refrain from consuming meat and meat based foods on this date. This is a fast day because we mirror the suffering of Jesus, and not eating is a way to do this. Basically, Good Friday is important because it is the day of the year that our Lord gave up his life for our sins. His painful death for us conquered death and hades, and showed us the way to endure suffering. This is the reason that many Catholics often use a crucifix as a devotional tool, because we are reminded not only of what Jesus suffered through, but his death was where the battle for our salvation happened. This is the reason that Christians the world over value the death of Jesus so greatly.
To wrap up, it is a good thing to celebrate Good Friday and Holy Thursday. Both commemorate important events in the salvation of humankind, and both days are essential to the worship life of the Church Catholic. So, this Holy Week, remember to observe these two important holy days.
The essayist recommends celebrating the 2 holidays referenced above, . One way is to visit a worship service on these days.
