Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33)
It’s time Pennsylvania stops sidelining its Christian roots and officially recognizes Good Friday as a state holiday.
Good Friday is not just an important date on the Christian calendar – it is the day Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was crucified at Golgotha in Jerusalem. It marks the moment when Christ took upon Himself the sin of the world, was nailed to a Roman cross and willingly died so that humanity could be reconciled with God.
This is about truth, history and honoring the spiritual convictions that built this commonwealth and is the foundation of the faith professed by more than two billion people worldwide and 73% of Pennsylvanians.
Christians observe Good Friday with fasting, mourning, prayer and worship. It is a solemn remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice: God incarnate, crucified for the salvation of mankind. Without Good Friday, there is no Easter Sunday. Without the cross, there is no resurrection. And without these events, there is no Christianity.
And yet, Pennsylvania, a state founded by William Penn – a devout Christian – has yet to formally recognize Good Friday. Meanwhile, states like New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, Texas and Kentucky already do. Are we less committed to our moral and historical heritage?
The values symbolized by Good Friday – self-sacrifice, mercy, humility, redemption – are not merely religious sentiments. They are truths that have shaped Western civilization, our legal code, our concept of justice and our understanding of human dignity. These ideals are what inspired William Penn to establish our very commonwealth. Christianity is not one of many cultural influences on Pennsylvania – it is the root.
What’s more, many schools, courts and offices already close or operate on limited schedules on Good Friday. Formalizing it as a state holiday simply aligns our law with reality and gives families the freedom to observe the day without professional or academic conflict.
Our state Senate chamber features a painting of Christ’s arrest, crucifixion and resurrection. Why? Because the men and women who shaped Pennsylvania understood its importance. Because the cross is central – not marginal – to who we are. William Penn summed this up brilliantly in 1669, saying, “No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.” These very words are also etched upon the walls of our state Capitol.
This legislation wouldn’t invent anything new. It simply would restore rightful recognition to what has always been there.
Christian Pennsylvanians should not be treated like second-class citizens when it comes to honoring their most sacred observances. Good Friday is not just another day. It is the day Christ died for us and was the prelude of his resurrection just days later. Good Friday deserves more than quiet acknowledgment. It deserves full respect of the state and its institutions.
Sen. Doug Mastriano represents the 33rd Senatorial District, covering all of Adams and Franklin counties.