GOOD FRIDAY IMPORTANCE:: ideas for families,history,abstinence.

Was going through this article and I saw every need to bring it to you... As a catholic or a child of God, they are some teachings that are very vital and you won't expect your priest or teacher to say them all. Here are some important things you need to know about Good Friday and the hours Jesus passed on.. Share with your friend. Don't be that friend that shares only what's social and groovy but share the teachings with one another too..

The Three Hours. Some churches hold prayer services during the three hours of Christ's suffering on the Cross. It would be appropriate to observe a period of silence at home, for devotional reading and private prayer (e.g., no radio, television, etc.), especially between the hours of noon and 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Each member of the family might choose a particularly unpleasant job which has been put off for a long time - like cleaning the garage or a closet, or scrubbing the bathrooms (we're sure you can think of something!)- to emphasize the dreariness apropriate to the day.

Good Friday was thought to be a good day for planting seeds (a reference to the Gospel about they seeds which must be planted in the ground to bear fruit as a metaphor for Christ's necessary death and His burial on this day) so if the weather permits, this could be a worthwhile activity with children. (Don't forget to explain the symbolism.) With very young children keeping silence during the Three Hours is virtually impossible. You might help them make a miniature Garden of Joseph of Arimathea in the yard.

Mother or Father can teach children about the circumstances of Christ's burial and resurrection from the tomb by telling the the story of Joseph, Christ's friend who donated the new tomb where Jesus' body was buried after He was taken down from the Cross.

Children can gather small stones, sticks, acorns. etc., for the little garden. Older children can be given a drawing or coloring project. Perhaps they could draw one or more of the Stations of the Cross. (Read also sections on the Cross and Christ symbols).

History:

From the earliest days of Christianity, no Mass has been celebrated on Good Friday; instead, the Church celebrates a special liturgy in which the account of the Passion according to the Gospel of John is read, a series of intercessory prayers (prayers for special intentions) are offered, and the faithful venerate the Cross by coming forward and kissing it. The Good Friday liturgy concludes with the distribution of Holy Communion. Since there was no Mass, Hosts that were reserved from the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday are distributed instead. See Also: When Is Good Friday in 2015? The service is particularly solemn; the organ is not played, and all vestments are red or (in the Traditional Latin Mass ) black. Since the date of Good Friday is dependent on the date of Easter, it changes from year to year

Fasting and Abstinence:

Good Friday is a day of strict fasting and abstinence . Catholics over the age of 18 and under the age of 60 are required to fast, which means that they can eat only one complete meal and two smaller ones during the day, with no food in between. Catholics who are over the age of 14 are required to refrain from eating any meat, or any food made with meat, on Good Friday.