Good Friday's Adoration of the Cross

Good Friday features the rite of the Adoratio Crucis. It is a rich element of the Good Friday liturgy. We are blessed to worship with them, freed from the errors which developed after the schism.

In the article The Good Friday Collects, I reflected on the history of the three Collects for Good Friday in the Book of Common Prayer. In drafting the article, I wrote a brief reflection on the Adoration of the Cross which is also done that day, but I realised that the article was already a bit long and this topic not as relevant. Please appreciate this short bonus article for paid subscribers.

The 1549 BCP is a product of the liturgical reform at a time which strongly favoured standardisation and simplification (both amongst Anglicans and Romanists). Due to this, the Book of Common Prayer contained no extra rites for Good Friday. The elaborate system of lessons and responses were omitted in favour of standard Mass propers. Additionally, this resulted as well in the elimination of Good Friday as a day for the Liturgy of the Presanctified, instead allowing a proper Mass to be said. Because of this, one would pray Mattins and Evensong, perhaps along with Holy Communion or only Antecommunion.