It is one of the more striking names in the Church’s calendar: Good Friday.
There is nothing obviously “good” about it. It is the day Christ was betrayed, beaten, and crucified. It is a day marked by suffering, silence, and death. So why do we call it good?
The answer is not found in the events themselves, but in what those events accomplished.
The Catechism explains:
“The redemptive death of Jesus fulfills, in a superabundant way, the expiation of the sins of all men” (CCC 616).
In other words, what happened on Good Friday was not simply a tragedy. It was the moment Christ offered Himself completely for the salvation of the world.
What appears to be defeat is actually victory. St. Leo the Great expresses it clearly:
“Our Lord’s Passion is our salvation.”
That is why the Church calls this day good. Not because suffering is good in itself, but because Christ transformed it. He entered into suffering and used it to redeem us.
Good Friday shows us the full extent of Christ’s love. He did not avoid suffering. He did not shorten it. He accepted it completely. It is also why the Church approaches this day with such seriousness. There is no Mass. The altar is bare. The liturgy is stripped down. Everything directs our attention to the Cross.
We are meant to look at it directly. Not to rush past it to Easter, but to remain there long enough to understand what it cost.
The name “Good Friday” is not meant to soften what happened. It is meant to remind us that even in the darkest moment, God was at work.
What looked like the worst day in history became the day of our redemption.
And that is why we call it good.
This Ornate Wall Crucifix with Red Inlay is a beautiful way to reflect on what happened on Good Friday all year. Every home should have a crucifix.
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