As 2015 marches on and spring continues to take hold, we Catholics are preparing for the end of Lent and the imminent celebration of Holy Week. All of this in preparation for the glorious celebration that is Easter. Holy Week is one of my most special weeks of the year and I hope it carries importance and significance for each of you.
Beginning today with the Vigil Mass and Evening Prayer, we arrive at Palm Sunday. Many churches go so far as to have processions with the blessed palms. If the liturgy follows the rubrics we will have an opening that includes blessing palms and hearing a Gospel proclaimed before the entrance procession. This Gospel takes us back to the event of Jesus and His triumphant entrance into Jerusalem with the crowd shouting Hosanna and waving palm branches. We later move to the proclamation of the Passion of Jesus, the Gospel of His arrest, trial, sufferings, carrying His Cross and Crucifixion. Unique this Sunday is the vast majority of Catholic Churches that allow the entire congregation to participate in saying some of the words from the Gospel. It should serve as a stark reminder that our words are Crucify Him, away with Him. These words should cut us to the depths of our hearts. We leave Mass carrying our Blessed Palms.
During the week, at least in our Archdiocese, the first significant event occurs on Tuesday and it occurs at the seat of the Archdiocese, the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France, in the heart of New Orleans. This is the Chrism Mass, where every Priest, most assuredly every Pastor, is called to celebrate with the Archbishop, and receive the Holy Oils, especially the Sacred Chrism. This is a moving and beautiful liturgy that all too unfortunately most Catholics never get to witness. Each Pastor then leaves this Mass and carries back to his own parish church the Sacred Oils to be used throughout the coming year, beginning with the Easter Vigil. The Oil of the Sick, of the Catechumenate and the Sacred Chrism are all presented to each Pastor.
Wednesday of Holy Week is called Spy Wednesday because we hear the Gospel of Judas and his evil cooperation and plan in Christ's arrest. Often, many churches will use the occasion of Wednesday to hold one last important Reconciliation Service before we enter into the Sacred Triduum.
And indeed the Triduum begins with Holy Thursday. On this day there is no morning Mass, the only Mass can be that of the Lord's Supper to be held in the evening time. Again, a rich and beautiful liturgy. The Gloria is sung and bells are rung, and all music is then silenced until the great Vigil. It is during this liturgy that we witness the Washing of the Feet, usually done by the Pastor, who selects 12 to have their feet washed. You may witness several variations to this ritual. After Holy Communion the Blessed Sacrament is not reposed but processed throughout the Church and reposed in a separate selected space. The altar is stripped bare, the lights are dimmed and the Blessed Sacrament is adored until midnight.
Then we arrive at Good Friday and the Veneration of the Cross and the Passion of the Lord. There is no Mass this day at all. We come to church at the hour of Christ's death; 3 PM, and we hear the Passion proclaimed again and come forward to venerate the Cross with a simple kiss. We receive Communion but not from any consecrated hosts from Friday, we receive from the hosts consecrated at the Holy Thursday liturgy. We leave in silence.
Holy Saturday morning is a reminder of the emptiness of our sinful ways as the Tabernacle remains without Jesus. Everything is prepared for that night, the great Vigil Mass of the Lord's Resurrection. We begin outside with new fire, the lights of the church are off, salvation history is proclaimed in several readings and then the Gloria rings out. The Gospel is proclaimed and we await the baptism of the new Catechumens and the Profession of Faith from the Candidates. Hundreds of thousands enter the Church across the world on this Saturday night.
Holy Week is beautiful and poignant and rich feast of all things Catholic. I hope you will be able to participate to the fullest!
Ready or not, here it is!
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