Joyful liturgies are what we are about as Christians – reflecting on Sancrosanctum Concilium
Analysis and Comment – Thomas O’Loughlin – September 16, 2025
The Christian approach
But the Christian approach is far more complex.
At a wedding we introduce a dark note when we speak about ‘until death’ separates the couple.
Conversely, at a funeral we speak of death being ‘swallowed up in victory,’ of life being ‘changed not ended,’ and, with joy, of the angels leading the dead person into paradise.
Indeed, the most emotionally charged liturgical moment in the year – on the Friday recalling the crucifixion – we see that afternoon liturgy not as a stand-alone gathering but as one scene in a three-act drama.
It begins with the joy of Holy Thursday evening and ends the exultation of the Easter Vigil – so to be present at the Good Friday liturgy without the other two gatherings, in effect, to miss the whole point.
It is Good Friday in a series of three rejoicings – and on that afternoon it is the rejoicing in the victory of the Cross over death that we emphasise.
That emotionally most charged day is not one of dark mourning, nor do we rejoice in suffering, but we are rejoicing because we do not believe that suffering, death, and decay have the last word.
No matter when we gather to worship there is a note of joy in our gathering, and the question now becomes: why strike this joyful note even in the face of suffering?
