By Monsignor John J. Oliveira
As you read these words, Christian churches throughout the world are preparing for Holy Week. It begins with the celebration of Palm Sunday this weekend.
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem. We carry palms as a sign of our acceptance of Jesus as our king and messiah. It should also be a pledge to enter into the spirit of Holy Week. Along with the distribution of blessed palms, the account of the passion and death of Our Lord is read. Palms are then brought home as a reminder of our loyalty to Christ our King.
We name the last three days of this week the sacred Triduum — Thursday evening until Saturday evening. Although Lent, according to the Liturgical calendar, ends on Thursday, we continue our fasting and prayer until the Easter Vigil.
On Holy Thursday we commemorate a number of significant events. This is the evening on which we recall the last supper of Jesus with the apostles. It was at this meal that He, wanting to remain with his disciples forever, instituted the Eucharist. The scriptures tell us He took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, take this and eat, this is my body. At the end of the meal He took the cup filled with wine, gave it to His disciples and said, take this all of you and drink from it, this is my blood.
On Holy Thursday we also recall the institution of the priesthood. It is the priest, who through holy orders (ordination), makes Christ present in the Eucharist. It is the priest who acts in the person of Christ when he says the words of consecration. Catholic believes Christ becomes present under the appearances of bread and wine when this takes place.
There is a special ritual in the Mass of Holy Thursday. It is called the Washing of the Feet, or the Mandatum, — the order that is given, the mandate. From this we get the name Maundy Thursday.
The Eucharist should lead to service. As Jesus washed the feet of His followers, so we too are called to imitate His service to others. We can get distracted that the feet being washed belong to men only, or we concentrate on our service to all regardless of gender, race or creed.
On Friday we commemorate the Passion and Death of the Lord. It is the only day on which no Mass is celebrated anywhere in the world. And because we remember on this day the love of God for us in a special way, it is called Good Friday.
Along with prayers for the world and the reading of the passion, all are invited to reverence the cross. In each church, members of the praying community will come forward and kiss the crucifix. This sign of reverence is a sign of gratitude for our salvation and a reminder that in imitation of Christ, we too are asked to carry our cross.
Saturday is spent waiting. It is the vigil of Easter. No Mass is to be celebrated until it is evening.
The Easter Vigil begins with the blessing of fire. From this new fire a paschal candle is lit. It travels through a darkened church until the first “Christ our Light” is intoned. The celebrant lights his candle from the paschal candle. At the second intonation, all the people light their candles. The darkness of the night is transformed by the light of Christ. It is wonderful to see the darkened church become bright from the glow of the candle flames. These flames magically light up the faces of those who hold the candle. At the final “Christ our Light” all the lights in the church are turned on. The vigil has begun.
After a beautiful song, called the Exultet, the readings begin. They relate the story of God’s love in creation and the selection of the chosen people. At the conclusion of the readings, the candles on the altar are lit and the Easter Gloria is intoned. During the Mass we renew our baptismal promises and are sprinkled with the newly blessed holy water reminding us of our baptism.
Catechumens are baptized, confirmed and receive their first Holy Communion at this Mass. Alleluia predominate the liturgy this day.
The entire week focuses on one reality — God’s love for us. It is a special week. It is a holy week. The question to ask ourselves is will it be just another week or will it be a Holy Week?
May God bless you and may you have a Happy Easter.
Monsignor John J. Oliveira is pastor at St. Mary’s Church in New Bedford.
http://www.heraldnews.com/archive/x1798431859/FROM-THE-PULPIT-The-meaning-of-Holy-Week#ixzz1Jec3vb4A
As you read these words, Christian churches throughout the world are preparing for Holy Week. It begins with the celebration of Palm Sunday this weekend.
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem. We carry palms as a sign of our acceptance of Jesus as our king and messiah. It should also be a pledge to enter into the spirit of Holy Week. Along with the distribution of blessed palms, the account of the passion and death of Our Lord is read. Palms are then brought home as a reminder of our loyalty to Christ our King.
We name the last three days of this week the sacred Triduum — Thursday evening until Saturday evening. Although Lent, according to the Liturgical calendar, ends on Thursday, we continue our fasting and prayer until the Easter Vigil.
On Holy Thursday we commemorate a number of significant events. This is the evening on which we recall the last supper of Jesus with the apostles. It was at this meal that He, wanting to remain with his disciples forever, instituted the Eucharist. The scriptures tell us He took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, take this and eat, this is my body. At the end of the meal He took the cup filled with wine, gave it to His disciples and said, take this all of you and drink from it, this is my blood.
On Holy Thursday we also recall the institution of the priesthood. It is the priest, who through holy orders (ordination), makes Christ present in the Eucharist. It is the priest who acts in the person of Christ when he says the words of consecration. Catholic believes Christ becomes present under the appearances of bread and wine when this takes place.
There is a special ritual in the Mass of Holy Thursday. It is called the Washing of the Feet, or the Mandatum, — the order that is given, the mandate. From this we get the name Maundy Thursday.
The Eucharist should lead to service. As Jesus washed the feet of His followers, so we too are called to imitate His service to others. We can get distracted that the feet being washed belong to men only, or we concentrate on our service to all regardless of gender, race or creed.
On Friday we commemorate the Passion and Death of the Lord. It is the only day on which no Mass is celebrated anywhere in the world. And because we remember on this day the love of God for us in a special way, it is called Good Friday.
Along with prayers for the world and the reading of the passion, all are invited to reverence the cross. In each church, members of the praying community will come forward and kiss the crucifix. This sign of reverence is a sign of gratitude for our salvation and a reminder that in imitation of Christ, we too are asked to carry our cross.
Saturday is spent waiting. It is the vigil of Easter. No Mass is to be celebrated until it is evening.
The Easter Vigil begins with the blessing of fire. From this new fire a paschal candle is lit. It travels through a darkened church until the first “Christ our Light” is intoned. The celebrant lights his candle from the paschal candle. At the second intonation, all the people light their candles. The darkness of the night is transformed by the light of Christ. It is wonderful to see the darkened church become bright from the glow of the candle flames. These flames magically light up the faces of those who hold the candle. At the final “Christ our Light” all the lights in the church are turned on. The vigil has begun.
After a beautiful song, called the Exultet, the readings begin. They relate the story of God’s love in creation and the selection of the chosen people. At the conclusion of the readings, the candles on the altar are lit and the Easter Gloria is intoned. During the Mass we renew our baptismal promises and are sprinkled with the newly blessed holy water reminding us of our baptism.
Catechumens are baptized, confirmed and receive their first Holy Communion at this Mass. Alleluia predominate the liturgy this day.
The entire week focuses on one reality — God’s love for us. It is a special week. It is a holy week. The question to ask ourselves is will it be just another week or will it be a Holy Week?
May God bless you and may you have a Happy Easter.
Monsignor John J. Oliveira is pastor at St. Mary’s Church in New Bedford.
http://www.heraldnews.com/archive/x1798431859/FROM-THE-PULPIT-The-meaning-of-Holy-Week#ixzz1Jec3vb4A
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