Diocese of Portland

"It is finished." The crucifixion and death of Jesus commemorated at Good Friday service at the Cathedral

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Woman kneels in from of the cross

Hundreds were in attendance as Bishop James Ruggieri led the Good Friday service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on April 3. This most solemn day for the Church, in remembrance of the Passion of Christ,  prepares the faithful for the glory of His Resurrection.

To begin the service, the altar was unadorned, having been stripped on Holy Thursday to acknowledge the suffering of Christ. In addition to readings from Isaiah and Hebrews, the Passion was read, with seminarian Deacon Ezekial Yisi reading the part of Jesus.

Following, Bishop Ruggieri offered his homily, reflecting on Christ's ultimate sacrifice for us all.

"From that cross something new begins. After he has given everything, Jesus says, 'It is finished.' His side is pierced and from his side flows blood and water.... As Eve was formed from the side of Adam, so the Church is born from the side of Christ."

He continued, "From the water of baptism, new life is given. From the precious blood of the Eucharist, life is sustained and nourished. What was lost in the first Garden is now restored now. Eternal life once forfeited, is now given again.
And this leads to something very important. The Church is not something secondary in the Father's plan of salvation. The Church is not simply a human institution that comes later. The Church is born from the very heart of Christ's sacrifice."

Following the homily was the Adoration of the Holy Cross, during which the faithful processed forward to venerate. The Cathedral Choir offered chants during this portion of the service.

Bishop Ruggieri will preside this evening at the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 8 p.m. at which several will be welcomed into the Church through baptism and sacraments. Tomorrow, he will offer Easter Mass at 10 a.m. at the cathedral. 

Unadorned altar
Image of the crucifixion
Woman speaking at the ambo
Bishop laying prostrate at the altar
Bishop Ruggieri laying prostrate at the altar.
Deacon speaking at the ambo
Deacon Ezekiel Yisi
Bishop offering homily at the ambo
Bishop Ruggieri offering the homily
Deacon singing at the ambo
Deacon Yisi singing during the service.
Priests on the altar
Men kneeling in the pews
Members of the Equestrian Order.
Crowd sitting in the pews
Members of the Equestrian Order were in attendance.
Woman in black kneeling in the pew.
Members of the Equestrian Order.
Altar servers presenting the cross
Altar servers presenting the cross.
Choir singing
Bishop kneeling at the cross.
Parishioners kneeling at the cross.
The veneration of the cross.
Woman kneeling at the cross.