Ways to Celebrate Good Friday
Before Easter arrives, many Christians look for simple ways to observe Good Friday. It is a day to remember the Passion and death of Jesus, and to stay close to the cross with prayer and repentance.
Good Friday is the second day of the Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday).
It is a day like no other in the liturgical year.
We are called to not just remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, but to enter into a communion with his suffering.
There are many different ways to celebrate Good Friday. Below are just a few ideas.
If you only do one thing, choose something small and do it with attention.
Attend a Good Friday service (if you can)
If you are able, going to church on Good Friday is one of the simplest ways to mark the day.
In many Catholic parishes, the service includes:
- Scripture readings (often including the Passion)
- Veneration of the Cross
- Holy Communion (hosts consecrated at Holy Thursday Mass)
Some churches also offer special traditions, like Soup and Stations, earlier in Lent. On Good Friday, the “soup” part is usually removed, and the focus stays on prayer and the cross. We have seen this both in Anchorage and in our current parish in Mississippi.
If you are visiting from another Christian tradition, you can still come and pray. Follow along as you feel comfortable.
If you cannot attend a service, you can still keep Good Friday at home. Choose Scripture, the cross, silence, and one simple sacrifice.
Fast and abstain (or choose another sacrifice)
For Catholics, Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstaining from meat. For some, this alone feels like a real call to suffer.
I know that I often seem hungrier on Holy Thursday. It is as if my brain tells my body to “stock up” for the next day.
In the years before kids, this day meant two small snacks for breakfast and lunch, and then a simple soup dinner.
My favorite for a simple soup dinner is Lentil Soup paired with a hearty bread like my Irish Brown Bread or even the family favorite of Challah Bread Rolls.
Now that we have hungry, growing boys, we often do some sort of fish with a starch (macaroni and cheese works) and a vegetable. Those of us who are fasting simply eat a smaller portion.
If fasting from food is not wise for you: you can still enter into the spirit of the day. Choose a different sacrifice (screens, sweets, snacking, shopping, background noise) and pair it with prayer.
Simple family tip: Tell the kids what you are doing and why, in one sentence. “Today we make room for Jesus by giving something up and spending extra time in prayer.”
Pray the Stations of the Cross (church or home)
This is one of the most traditional ways to observe Good Friday.
In some past years, our parish offered options like:
- Stations in the morning (sometimes even outdoors in Anchorage, Alaska)
- Stations at 3 p.m.
- An evening service that includes veneration of the Cross
While going through the Stations in a larger community is my preference, you can absolutely do this at home.
How to do Stations at home (simple):
- Choose a format (full Stations, a shorter version, or a children’s version).
- Begin with a short opening prayer.
- Read one station, pause, then pray.
- Keep moving. Do not rush, but do not worry about perfection.
- End with a closing prayer.
For kids: try Stations of the Cross for Children at Loyola Press (printable pages or multimedia). You can also find a printable booklet at Family in Feast and Feria.
Read the Passion in John 18 to 19
If you do not know what to do on Good Friday, this is a strong place to start.
Read John 18 to 19 slowly.
Pause after each scene.
Imagine being there.
Ask Jesus to help you understand his love.
Family option: Read a shorter portion (a few paragraphs), then ask one question: “What stood out to you?”
Keep a 3 p.m. pause
Many Christians pause around 3 p.m., the hour often remembered as the time of Jesus’ death.
For some, this may seem to be the hardest thing to do.
Years ago, I remember being convicted to spend an hour in silence from 3 to 4 p.m. in our home.
My boys were not as eager for this. I think we lasted about 15 or 20 minutes.
Sometimes I think we struggle with sitting in silence.
There is so much noise in our daily lives that the silence is foreign and uncomfortable.
I learned that it does not have to be long. Even a few minutes can reset the whole day.
When I have spent time in adoration in silence, I have experienced that uncomfortable tug.
Why? Because there are times when God is trying to speak to me and I’m not sure I want to hear what He has to say.
Yet, when I do allow the silence to wash over me, I can say that I am better off for it.
So….scheduling silence today is a great way to celebrate Good Friday.
While I do sit and soak in those whispers from above, I will also spend some of that time reading Scripture.
Try this:
- Pick a time (3 p.m. if possible).
- Set a timer (start with 3 to 5 minutes).
- Choose a focus (a cross, a short verse, one intention).
- End with one short prayer.
Even younger kids can often do 5 to 10 minutes if they have something quiet for their hands (picture books, coloring pages, or a children’s Bible with pictures).
If your home is loud, try ‘quiet hands’ time at the table, a slow prayer walk, or silent coloring near a cross.
Pray the Divine Mercy Novena (Day 1)
Good Friday marks the start of the Divine Mercy Novena.
If you already pray it each year, this is a beautiful way to anchor the day. If you are new to it, start simple. Pray Day 1 and do not worry about doing everything perfectly.
For Catholics who want to obtain an indulgence, you need to:
- receive sacramental confession
- Eucharistic communion at Mass either on Saturday or Sunday that weekend
- pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
- take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy
If you are not Catholic: you can still pray the themes of mercy, repentance, and trust in Jesus in a way that fits your tradition.
Pray Psalm 22
Psalm 22 gives words to suffering, fear, and hope. Parts of it are closely tied to the Passion.
Read it slowly. Then pray one honest sentence to God about where you need help.
Read Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12
This passage (often called the Suffering Servant) is a powerful Good Friday reading.
Read it once. Sit quietly. Then read it again.
Let it point you back to Jesus.
Pray for others (simple intercessions)
Good Friday is a fitting day to pray for people who are suffering.
You can keep it simple:
- someone who is sick
- someone who is grieving
- someone far from God
- your family
- your church
- the world
Name them out loud. Ask Jesus to be close to them.
Choose one act of mercy
Good Friday is not only about what we avoid. It can also be about love.
Choose one act of mercy that fits your season:
- give to a charity
- drop off food for someone
- write a note to a person who is struggling
- make a hard phone call you have been avoiding (if it is loving and needed)
- offer forgiveness, even if it is only the first step
Keep it quiet. Keep it real. Offer it to Jesus.
Good Friday at Home: Pick a Simple Plan
Plan A (15 to 20 minutes):
- Read John 18-19 (or a short portion)
- 3 to 5 minutes of silence
- One short prayer
- Choose one small sacrifice for the day
Plan B (45 to 60 minutes):
- Stations of the Cross (full or short)
- Read part of John 18-19
- Intercessions
- Divine Mercy Novena (Day 1)
Plan C (Family plan, 30 to 45 minutes):
- Children’s Stations
- Short Passion reading
- Quiet hands activity
- One simple family prayer
There are many ways to observe Good Friday. You do not need to do all ten. Choose one or two practices, and do them with a willing heart.
How do you observe Good Friday in your home?
Do you seek out a larger community, or do you keep it mostly at home?
A few related posts for you
Ways to Celebrate Good Friday was originally written on April 14, 2017. It has since been updated.
These are all great. We visited a local church and did the Stations of the Cross for families. It was great!
A few years back we had an ecumenical Stations of the Cross in our church’s parking lot. After that first year, they rotated to other churches in the area. I didn’t find out where it was this year, so we went to the 3 p.m. one at our parish.