Lagos – Christians all over the world will on Friday, March 25 mark this year’s solemnity of Good Friday, which signifies the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death on `The Cross of Calvary’’.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr Gabriel Osu.
According to him, on Good Friday, Christians unite to Jesus, who sacrificed his life for mankind, as well as contemplate on “our own death to sin in the death of our Lord’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Good Friday is a day when Christians are expected to reflect on the lives and death of Christ, who paid the supreme price for the redemption of humanity.
It is also a day of fasting within the Church; traditionally, there is no Mass and no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday.
The church bells are silent and altars are left bare; this solemn atmosphere is preserved until the Easter Vigil.
Osu said, “On Good Friday, we re-enact the suffering and death of Jesus Christ; it is a day when we are expected to fix our eyes on the Cross at Calvary.
“On this day also, no Mass is said in the strict sense of the word, rather, we undertake a special service called the Mass of the Pre-sanctified.
“This is because the Communion, which is in the species of bread, had already been consecrated on Holy Thursday and is given to the people.
“Without the death on the cross, there will not have been salvation and there would not have been the resurrection, which is the thrust of Christianity,’’ he said.
Osu also enjoined Christians and all Nigerians to pray for the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its efforts to rid the nation of corruption and reposition the dwindling economy for good. (NAN)