Holy Week

Monday, October 02 2006

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Holy Week

The action of this week moves from the triumph of the palm procession through the agony and death of the Lord to his glorious resurrection from the dead. During Holy Week the people of God take time to reflect and pray about what Jesus has done for us in his love. We become more aware of the many ways in which we continue to live and experience the dying and rising of Jesus in our daily lives.

Passion Sunday

Chrism Mass: On Thursday (or another day before Easter) the bishop blesses the oils in the cathedral. He blesses holy Chrism for baptism, confirmation and ordination; oil for the anointing of the sick; and the oil of catechumens for those preparing for baptism. The oils are brought to each parish church and there prominently and reverently displayed. They are used in celebrating the sacraments during the year.

Easter Triduum: For three full days, from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday night, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery of Jesus Christ. This is his work of saving us by his dying and rising: one great act of God’s love and mercy for us. We celebrate because Jesus has brought us into his paschal mystery by baptism. With him we are baptized into death to sin; with him we rise to live a new life for God.

Holy Thursday

Evening Mass: We remember the Passover feast of the Jewish people and the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples when we celebrate the Eucharist this evening. Before he offers himself on the cross, Jesus takes bread and says, “This is my body.” He takes a cup of wine and says “This is my blood of the new covenant shed to save all sinners. Do this in memory of me.” We obey him each time we come together to celebrate the Eucharist.

Good Friday

Spirit of the day: The meaning of this day is clearly indicated by its name in English: it is “Good” Friday, the day when God did wonderful things for us by the suffering and death of his Son. Out of his death God has brought us light and life, making it possible for us to be saved. This is indeed a good day for the world.

Paschal fast: This morning we begin our two day fast in preparation for the Easter vigil. We eat less food than normal and cut out entertainments. We wait until the Easter vigil to wear our spring finery. These are days for prayer and meditation, not for shopping or driving or being entertained: Friday and Saturday form a sort of mini Lent, and are actually the origin of that season.

Liturgy: Around 3:00 o’clock, the time of our Lord’s death on the cross, we come together in church to remember what Jesus has done for us. In the service of the word, we listen to the solemn proclamation of Jesus’ passion according to John, then offer prayer for the world and for God’s people, the Church.

We venerate the cross, and eat the life giving Body of the Lord in communion.

In our homes we keep the paschal fast all day. All members make an effort to observe silence and to spend more time in prayer.

Lord Jesus, we give you glory, you are the saviour of the world!

Holy Saturday

On this day, the body of Jesus lay in the guarded tomb and the frightened disciples hid behind locked doors. In the Church, Holy Saturday is a quiet day, the great Sabbath rest. The paschal fast continues and we avoid entertainments and distractions, as on Good Friday. During the day, the catechumens (elect) make their final preparations for baptism.

Easter

Easter vigil: This service is the most important celebration of the Church year. It takes place during the dark hours of the night. It has four distinct stages:

The rest of the people renew their baptismal promises and are sprinkled with blessed water in memory of their baptism. Tonight is celebrated as the baptismal anniversary of the whole Christian community.

Easter day: The joyful celebration of our Lord’s rising continues. Alleluia! meaning “praise to God!” is our shout of joy.

Easter season: For fifty days, the people of God reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection and of their sharing in it through baptism: dying to sin and living for God. For seven weeks we celebrate the presence of Jesus among us. We celebrate his ascension and pray to him, seated in glory with the Father. As we prepare for Pentecost, we ask him to fill us with the grace and power of his Spirit.

In our home: Holy Week and the Easter season offer us an opportunity to share more fully with Jesus in his suffering and in his glory. Are we open to his love for us?

Holy Father,
we praise you for loving us so deeply
that you sent Jesus to save us.
We remember his suffering,
his dying, and his rising.
With him we continue each day
to die to sin in our life
and to live only for you.

Heavenly Father,we praise you
through Christ our Lord. Amen!


Holy Week: Liturgical Leaflet, edited by the National Liturgy Office, and published by Publications Service, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2500 Don Reid Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 2J2 Canada. Copyright © Concacan Inc., 1987, 2002. All rights reserved. This text may be reproduced for personal or parish use. For commercial licence, please contact the publisher.