Q: Alternate explanation for not having sign of the cross on Good Friday.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that for the Triduum, the Sign of the Cross begins the Holy Thursday liturgy. There is no dismissal. Good Friday service also does not begin with the sign of the cross, nor is there a dismissal.The Holy Saturday Vigil also omits the opening sign of the cross but ends with dismissal. The thought was that the Triduum could be looked at as “one continuing service” the sign of the cross beginning the service on Holy Thursday and the dismissal ending the Triduum on Holy Saturday. Works for me, anyway.
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A: I’d heard this and used to teach it as well—until the Third Edition of the Roman Missal came out. It explicitly calls for the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Easter Vigil.
Then I realized that if the parish celebrates morning prayer in common during the Triduum, that concludes with a blessing and dismissal.