Rt Rev Hugh Lindsay, Bishop Emeritus of Hexham and Newcastle, and the priests of the Cathedral, participated in the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday.

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On this day the whole Church mourns the death of our Saviour. This is traditionally a day of sadness, spent in fasting and prayer and, following the ancient tradition of the Church, there are no sacraments celebrated on Good Friday.

The altar is completely bare, with no cloths, candles nor cross. The service is divided into three parts: Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion. The liturgy starts with Bishop Lindsay and the priests going to the altar in silence and prostrating themselves for a few moments in silent prayer, then an introductory prayer is prayed.

In part one, the Liturgy of the Word, we hear the most famous of the Suffering Servant passages from Isaiah (52:13-53:12), a pre-figurement of Christ on Good Friday. Psalm 30 is the Responsorial Psalm "Father, I put my life in your hands." The Second Reading is from the letter to the Hebrews, 4:14-16; 5:7-9. The Gospel Reading is the Passion of St. John.

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Part two is the Veneration of the Cross. A cross is processed through the Church, and then venerated by the congregation.

Part three, Holy Communion, concludes the Celebration of the Lord's Passion. The altar is covered with a cloth and the ciboriums containing the Blessed Sacrament are brought to the altar from the place of reposition. The Our Father and the Ecce Agnus Dei ("This is the Lamb of God") are recited. The congregation receive Holy Communion, there is a "Prayer After Communion," and then a "Prayer Over the People," and everyone departs in silence.

Listen to Homily given by Bishop Hugh Lindsay [MP3]