Lent - Holy Week - Easter 2024

Fasting and Abstinence  Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all 18 years of age and older who have not yet celebrated their 59th birthday. On a fast day one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Abstinence is observed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on all other Fridays of Lent by all 14 years of age and older. On days of abstinence no meat is allowed. Remember: If your health or your ability to work would be seriously affected, fasting or abstinence does not apply. If in doubt please speak with one of our Priests or Deacons.

The Veneration and Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday

One of the Church’s most treasured liturgical traditions is the adoration of the Cross at the Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday. Most of us will have memories of individual veneration, kissing or touching the wood of the Cross, but where there is a large congregation the Church has foreseen that there is a real practical problem – a lengthy time of veneration destroys the integrity of a beautiful and balanced liturgy which is about the Lord, not about us. The Roman Missal instructs: “If, because of the large number of people, it is not possible for all to approach individually”, the Priest is to take the Cross, stand in the middle, and invite the people all together to adore the Holy Cross in silence. Once again, we will adore the cross together at Annunciation, precisely as happens at Saint Peter’s in Rome; all simply kneel at their places for a brief time of adoration. However, as the Missal says, at the end of the ceremony “the Cross remains” and when the clergy have departed in silence, you will be able to come and venerate the sacred wood. The church building will stay open until 5:30pm.

You may have heard that in some Florida churches with large attendances the Pastors have chosen to have many crosses available for veneration but the Missal and our Diocesan instructions are quite clear: “Only one Cross should be offered for veneration”. Saint Paul tells us (1 Cor. 1:13) that Christ is not divided and the Church wants to emphasize the uniqueness of the death of the Son of God for us.