Holy Thursday and Good Friday – A Few Highly Significant Catholic Festivals

Many Christians are familiar with Christmas and Easter, but there are a lot of other important holy days as well. While I cannot discuss all of them here, I want to highlight two feasts that fall back to back to one another: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Both are notable 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 ignore these two hallowed and classic holy days. I am wondering here, are you pondering What is Good Friday?

First, let’s 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 2000 years ago, that The Lord celebrated the Last Supper with his followers. On this night, he identified the bread and wine of communion with his holy body and blood, and said “do this in my memory.” He also washed his disciples’ feet at that dinner, a custom the Church retains during its current including Maundy 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 observe, this is an important date in the , because it celebrates the institution of the sacrament of The lord’s body and blood, and the sacrament that preserves the apostolic authority of the apostles of Our lord!

Second, let us 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 shed his blood for the sins of the world. He hung upon the cross, surrounded by 2 common thieves, covered in blood, suffering, and abandoned by his closest disciples.The process by which he traveled to his place of death, and his last moments of suffering and death are recalled in the devotion of the stations of the cross, often used on Good Friday. This holy day is also a fast day of the Church. That signifies that Catholics are expected to eat only one full meal, as well as refrain from consuming meat and meat based foods on this date. This is a fast day because we model the suffering of Jesus, and not eating is a way to do this. Ultimately, Good Friday is important because it is the day of the year that our Lord gave up his life for the sins of the world. His painful death for us conquered death and hades, and demonstrated to 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.

In conclusion, it is a good thing to commemorate Good Friday and Holy Thursday. Both commemorate major events in the salvation of mankind, and both days are essential to the worship of the Catholic Church. So, this Holy Week, remember to observe these 2 important holy days.

The essayist recommends celebrating the 2 holidays referenced above, . One way is to visit a worship service on these days.