After tenebrae came rehearsal for the Good Friday liturgy. This is the most complex of the week's observances. Several of the ceremonies-the Veneration of the Cross, the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified-are one of a kind. Add to this the poignancy of the liturgy and this is a difficult few hours. The ministers have to listen to the singing of the passion then do things that they only do once a year.

After rehersal, we said the hours in choir at 11:00. Psalm 119 again, that longest of all the psalmist's pleadings with God.

Mr. Reilly, our Master of Acolytes and one of the most knowledgeable people whom I have ever met, often helps the sacred ministers and servers remember what they are supposed to do next during the Good Friday liturgy by reminding us that this is Jesus' funeral. Many of the smaller actions and gestures are those of a requiem-the black vestments, the omission of the reverences and the various kisses as one hand things to the priest. The analogy holds beyond the rubrical directions. We hear the passion; we make our way to the cross to pay our respects; and the same emotions are there as well.

In the liturgy, I assisted our new curate, Fr. Wall, as he held the crucifix for the veneration of the faithful. Most all of whom, the youngest and the oldest, made the traditional prostrations on their way up the aisle to take their turn in veneration. Fr. Wall and eight of the servers stayed in choir to monotone vespers after the distribution of communion. I'm sure it was quite a contrast for those who remained in the church after hearing the choir singing acapella throughout the service. When vespers were finished, the parish's relic of the True Cross was brought to the communion rail for those who wished to venerate it. Afterwards, we said compline, then filed down from the choir into the church to the Shrine of Our Lady of Clemency for the Maria Desolata devotion. The prayers of the devotion recount the sufferings of the Blessed Mother on behalf of her Son, particularly appropriate on this year when Good Friday falls on the Annunciation. As we left the church, I was surprised to see that there were \about 17 who had stayed to the end.

I'm afraid you'll have to wait to see photos from the liturgy-I forgot to give my camera to DaVida Goings, who has taken most of the pictures that go with my journal entries here. The 2004 pictures are available here.

Next it was time to shift gears. It takes a lot of work to take a church from Good Friday to Easter. In an ideal world, we could wait a decent interval, but in a fairly small parish, it's an all hands on deck situation. The Altar of Repose in the chapel has to be disassembled as does the Altar of the Maundy in the parish hall. The Altar rugs are carried back up from the basement where they've spent Lent; the silver candlesticks replace the wooden set. The images are uncovered and dressed, the votive racks are refilled, the reliquaries are returned to their places on the altars, and so on. About ten of us worked for two hours, we'll be glad of it tomorrow.

Rehearsal for Good Friday.

Setting the books.

Changing out the candlesticks.

Putting the rug back down.