With the annual participation in the procession with Palms and the recitation of the Passion of the Lord now complete, we have begun the observance of the final week of Lent: otherwise known as Holy Week. While the Church is invited to pray and to assemble for the celebration of the Eucharist in a much more subdued fashion duirng the first days of this week, the latter part of the week will involve much more elaborate gestures:
The Mass of Chrism
The long-standing custom in the dioceses of Italy is that the Mass of Chrism (during which the priests of the diocese renew their commitment to service, and the oils used for the Sacraments of the Church are blessed) is celebrated on Holy Thursday morning. This morning, the Vatican Office of Papal Liturgies announced that the Mass of Chrism for the Diocese of Rome will be celebrated on Holy Thursday morning beginning at 9:30am local time there.
Every diocesan bishop is free to follow the example set by the Bishop of Rome, or to designate another day during Holy Week (or even outside of this week) when the Mass of Chrism is celebrated in his diocese. In the case of the diocese where I serve, the Mass of Chrism was celebrated last Thursday, in order to allow priests and parishioners from as many parishes as possible to be present, without having to rush in order to return to their parishes for the other liturgical celebrations of Holy Week.
The Mass of the Lord's Supper
On Holy Thursday, the Church does not allow the celebration of any Mass other than that of the Lord's Supper (and of course the Mass of Chrism if this is the custom). During this liturgy, which commemorates the night on which Jesus presented his disciples with the new commandment (which we refer to as the mandatum):
In this parish, the Mass of the Lord's Supper will begin at 7:00pm on Holy Thursday evening, but by that time, the celebration of this liturgy in Rome will already be complete. According to the details published today, the Holy Father will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper at the Casal del Marmo Juvenile Detemtion Centre (in Rome) beginning at 7:30pm.
The Passion of the Lord
On Good Friday, the Church does not celebrate the Eucharist. Instead we gather to commemorate the suffering and death of the Lord. On this side of the Atlantic, children in this parish will tell the story beginning at 11:00am on Good Friday, and there will be a second telling of the story of Christ's passion beginning at 3:00pm.
One of the deacons from our parish will also travel to the parish of Saint Elizabeth in Temagami to celebrate this liturgy with the people of that place. This celebration will begin at 3:00pm.
Youth in this city will lead the reflections of the Stations of the Cross as we journey through the streets beginning at 5:00pm on Friday, and then a second recitation of the meditations will take place inside the Pro-Cathedral beginning at 7:00pm.
In Rome, the Holy Father will preside at the Liturgy of the Word (since we do not consecrate bread and wine on this day), the Adoration of the Cross and the distribution of Communion (consecrated at a previously-celebrated Mass) in the Vatican Basilica beginning at 5:00pm local time.
His Holiness will also preside the meditations of the Via Crucis in the Roman Colosseum beginning at 9:15pm local time. When the meditations are complete, His Holiness will also address the faithful and impart his Apostolic Blessing.
The Vigil of the Resurrection
While the Church observes the time that Jesus spent in the tomb, we do not celebrate the Eucharist, but as the sun sets on Holy Saturday, we gather to begin the Vigil of Easter. This liturgy, which includes the blessing of a new fire, the readings of our Salvation history from the scriptures, the blessing of water, the Baptism and Confirmation of adults, and the Eucharist, will begin in this parish at 8:00pm (as the sun is setting).
In Rome, the blessing of the new fire will take place in the atrium of Saint Peter's Basilica at 8:30pm. The procession will then move through the Basilica, led by the new Easter candle, and the chanting of the Exultet, then the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism and the Eucharist. The Holy Father will concelebrate this liturgy along with the Cardinals and other priests and faithful who will be present.
Easter Sunday
On the day of the Lord, the Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated here at 9:00am and 11:00am (at the parish of Saint Peter the Apostle), and at 2:00pm at Saint Elizabeth.
In Rome, the Holy Father will preside at a Mass which will be celebrated in Saint Peter's Square beginning at 10:15am local time. At the end of that liturgy, he will ascend to the central balcony above the doors of the Basilica and from that place, he will recite the Regina Coeli impart his Urbi et Orbi blessing.
The Church celebrates the Easter Season from Easter Sunday until the Solemnity of Pentecost, which this year will be observed on May 19.
The Mass of Chrism
The long-standing custom in the dioceses of Italy is that the Mass of Chrism (during which the priests of the diocese renew their commitment to service, and the oils used for the Sacraments of the Church are blessed) is celebrated on Holy Thursday morning. This morning, the Vatican Office of Papal Liturgies announced that the Mass of Chrism for the Diocese of Rome will be celebrated on Holy Thursday morning beginning at 9:30am local time there.
Every diocesan bishop is free to follow the example set by the Bishop of Rome, or to designate another day during Holy Week (or even outside of this week) when the Mass of Chrism is celebrated in his diocese. In the case of the diocese where I serve, the Mass of Chrism was celebrated last Thursday, in order to allow priests and parishioners from as many parishes as possible to be present, without having to rush in order to return to their parishes for the other liturgical celebrations of Holy Week.
The Mass of the Lord's Supper
On Holy Thursday, the Church does not allow the celebration of any Mass other than that of the Lord's Supper (and of course the Mass of Chrism if this is the custom). During this liturgy, which commemorates the night on which Jesus presented his disciples with the new commandment (which we refer to as the mandatum):
If I then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet,
you must wash each other's feet.
I have given you an example
so that you may do what I have done for you.
In this parish, the Mass of the Lord's Supper will begin at 7:00pm on Holy Thursday evening, but by that time, the celebration of this liturgy in Rome will already be complete. According to the details published today, the Holy Father will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper at the Casal del Marmo Juvenile Detemtion Centre (in Rome) beginning at 7:30pm.
The Passion of the Lord
On Good Friday, the Church does not celebrate the Eucharist. Instead we gather to commemorate the suffering and death of the Lord. On this side of the Atlantic, children in this parish will tell the story beginning at 11:00am on Good Friday, and there will be a second telling of the story of Christ's passion beginning at 3:00pm.
One of the deacons from our parish will also travel to the parish of Saint Elizabeth in Temagami to celebrate this liturgy with the people of that place. This celebration will begin at 3:00pm.
Youth in this city will lead the reflections of the Stations of the Cross as we journey through the streets beginning at 5:00pm on Friday, and then a second recitation of the meditations will take place inside the Pro-Cathedral beginning at 7:00pm.
In Rome, the Holy Father will preside at the Liturgy of the Word (since we do not consecrate bread and wine on this day), the Adoration of the Cross and the distribution of Communion (consecrated at a previously-celebrated Mass) in the Vatican Basilica beginning at 5:00pm local time.
His Holiness will also preside the meditations of the Via Crucis in the Roman Colosseum beginning at 9:15pm local time. When the meditations are complete, His Holiness will also address the faithful and impart his Apostolic Blessing.
The Vigil of the Resurrection
While the Church observes the time that Jesus spent in the tomb, we do not celebrate the Eucharist, but as the sun sets on Holy Saturday, we gather to begin the Vigil of Easter. This liturgy, which includes the blessing of a new fire, the readings of our Salvation history from the scriptures, the blessing of water, the Baptism and Confirmation of adults, and the Eucharist, will begin in this parish at 8:00pm (as the sun is setting).
In Rome, the blessing of the new fire will take place in the atrium of Saint Peter's Basilica at 8:30pm. The procession will then move through the Basilica, led by the new Easter candle, and the chanting of the Exultet, then the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism and the Eucharist. The Holy Father will concelebrate this liturgy along with the Cardinals and other priests and faithful who will be present.
Easter Sunday
On the day of the Lord, the Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated here at 9:00am and 11:00am (at the parish of Saint Peter the Apostle), and at 2:00pm at Saint Elizabeth.
In Rome, the Holy Father will preside at a Mass which will be celebrated in Saint Peter's Square beginning at 10:15am local time. At the end of that liturgy, he will ascend to the central balcony above the doors of the Basilica and from that place, he will recite the Regina Coeli impart his Urbi et Orbi blessing.
The Church celebrates the Easter Season from Easter Sunday until the Solemnity of Pentecost, which this year will be observed on May 19.
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