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GOOD FRIDAY

The priest and his ministers, in black vestments, go up to the altar, where they prostrate
themselves in prayer for a few moments. Then, the following prayer is said by the priest :

Prayer. O God, Who, by the Passion of Thy Son, our Lord, hast released us from the deadly stain of
original sin : mercifully grant that we may be made like unto Him; and, as we have borne the
likeness of earthly nature, so may we live a holy life according to the likeness of heavenly grace.
Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

I

THE LESSONS
1st Lesson. Osee 6, 1-6. Thus saith the Lord, In their affliction they will rise early to Me :
Come, and let us return to the Lord : for He hath taken us, and He will heal us : He will strike,
and He will cure us. He will revive us after two days : on the third day He will raise up and we
shall live in His sight. We shall know and we shall follow on, that we may know the Lord. His going
forth is prepared as the morning light and He will come to us as the early and the latter rain to
the earth. What shall I do to thee, O Ephraim?
What shall I do to thee, O Juda? Your mercy is as a
morning cloud and as the dew that goes away in the
morning. For this reason have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my
mouth :
and thy judgments shall go forth as the light. For I desired mercy and not sacrifice :
and the knowledge of God more than holocausts.

Response. Habacuc 3 O Lord, I have heard Thy hearing and was afraid : I have considered Thy
works and trembled.     V. In the midst of two animals Thou shalt be