The Rites and Meanings of Holy Week

Holy Week has as its purpose the remembrance of Christ’s passion, beginning with his Messianic entry into Jerusalem (General Norms, 31).

1. The days of Holy Week, from Monday to Thursday inclusive, have precedence over all other celebrations. It is not fitting that baptisms or confirmations be celebrated on these days since they have their natural place in the Easter Vigil.

2. Pastors should remind the faithful of the paschal fast which “should be observed everywhere on Good Friday and continued, where possible, on Holy Saturday. In this way, the people of God will receive the joys of the Lord’s resurrection with uplifted and responsive hearts.” (CSL 110)

3. The passion of the Lord dominates these solemn days. While not hiding the cross or crucifix from sight, a violet (or red) cloth may be used to drape it. If the Bible is left open, it might be opened to a Passion Gospel.



PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION



1. Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, a day on which the Church enters upon the mystery of the death, burial and resurrection of her Lord, brings together the triumphal procession of Christ as King and the proclamation of his Passion. Both aspects of the paschal mystery should be explained in the catechesis of the day.

2. The Lord’s entry into Jerusalem is commemorated by means of a solemn procession. There should be only one such procession, to be celebrated before Mass on either the Saturday evening or on the Sunday itself.

The people should gather in a lesser church or in another suitable place outside the church to which the procession is directed. The faithful take part in the procession singing and waving branches of the palm tree or of other trees in their hands. The priest and his ministers do the same.

The branches are blessed by the priest so that they may be carried in procession, and be devoutly kept in the home so as to call to mind the victory of Christ as celebrated by today’s procession.

3. To commemorate the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, apart from the procession, the Missal proposes a solemn entry, to be enacted wherever it is not possible to hold a procession outside the church. This solemn entry is to take place before the main Mass, with the faculty of repeating it before another Mass which is habitually celebrated with a large gathering of the people. The Missal also proposes a simple entry, to be enacted at other Masses.

4. The vestments used today are red. In the procession the priest may wear either the cope or the chasuble.

5. After the procession or the solemn entry, the sign of the cross and the penitential rite or the sprinkling of the congregation with holy water are all omitted from the beginning of Mass and the collect follows immediately. The Mass then proceeds in the usual way.

6. For the spiritual good of the faithful it is appropriate that the narrative of the passion be read in its entirety, without however omitting the other readings which precede it. After the reading of the passion, there should be a homily, even if only a brief one.

7. The narrative of the Lord’s Passion is read without candles, incense, initial greeting or marking of the book with the sign of the cross. It is read by the deacon, or in his absence, by a priest. It may be read even by lay readers, the part of Christ being reserved if possible to the priest. Deacons, but not others, recite the prayer Munda cor meum (Almighty God, cleanse my heart...), and ask a blessing from the priest, as is usually done before the Gospel. At the end is said Verbum Domini (The Gospel of the Lord), but the book is not kissed.

8. Where it is not possible to celebrate Mass, there should be held a Liturgy of the Word about the Lord’s messianic entry and his Passion, either on the Saturday evening or at a suitable time on Sunday.




Wednesday in Holy Week




1. Tomorrow the only Mass permitted are the Chrism Mass and the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. According to an ancient tradition, all Masses without an assembly and the funeral Masses are forbidden. The local Bishop may permit another Mass of the Lord’s Supper to be celebrated in the evening.

*For pastoral reason, chrism mass may be celebrated earlier within the Holy Week according the decision of the bishop.

2. On Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the Eucharist is distributed only during the liturgy, but it may be brought to the sick at any convenient hour. On Holy Saturday, the Eucharist is not given before the Easter Vigil celebration; but it may be given only as viaticum.

3. Funeral Masses are not allowed on Holy Thursday, or during the Easter Triduum. Funeral rites on these days make use of the liturgy of the Word, closing with the rite of Farewell, as found in the Order of Christian Funerals, part I, no. 4. Readings should reflect the
nature of these days, and communion outside Mass is not given.

4. The paschal fast is observed on Good Friday and continues, where possible, until the Easter Vigil itself.





Holy Thursday




1. The Chrism Mass is one of the principal expressions of the fullness of the Bishop’s priesthood and signifies the close unity of the priests with him. During this mass, which he celebrates with priests from various sectors of the diocese, the Bishop consecrates the Chrism and blesses the other oils.

2. This Mass takes place on Thursday morning. The concelebrants may also (con) celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The Mass of Chrism may also be transferred to an earlier day within the Holy Week, if it is difficult for the clergy and people to assemble with their Bishop on Holy Thursday morning.

3. Those receiving communion at the Chrism Mass may receive again in the evening, at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

4. The newly blessed holy oils can be brought to individual parishes before the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, or at some other suitable time. This can be a means of catechizing the faithful about the use and effects of the Holy Oils and Chrism in the Christian life. For “The Reception of the Holy Oils Blessed at the Chrism Mass,” see the Sacramentary Supplement, 31-32.

5. The old oils are burned. They may be put into the lamp which burn before the reserved Blessed Sacrament.

6. Lent ends before the Evening Prayer is celebrated. The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, ending with the conclusion of Vespers on Easter Sunday. Evening Prayer today is celebrated only by those not participating in Evening Mass.



EASTER TRIDUUM



Washing of feet takes place during the Mass of the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum.

During this celebration we commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ redeemed us all and gave perfect glory to God principally through his paschal mystery: dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored our life. Therefore, the Easter Triduum of the passion, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. Thus the solemnity of Easter has the same kind of preeminence in the liturgical year that Sunday has in the week. The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with the evening prayer on Easter Sunday (General Norms, 18-19).

1. Communion may be given under both kinds, with the permission of the local ordinary, at Masses on Holy Thursday.

2. Before the Mass begins, the tabernacle should be entirely empty; a sufficient amount of bread should be consecrated at this Mass for the communion of the clergy and laity today and tomorrow.

3. The group whose feet are washed should, as much as possible, represent a crosssection of the local community. The number is traditionally twelve, though there is no exact requirement.

4. Today the faithful are encouraged to offer gifts in cash or kind for the needy members of the community.

5. It is more appropriate that the Eucharist be borne directly from the altar by the deacons, acolytes or special ministers at the moment of communion for the sick and infirm who must communicate at home. In this way they may be more closely united to the celebrating Church.

6. After communion, a ciborium with hosts for Good Friday is left on the altar. Following the prayer after Communion, the procession with the Holy Eucharist to the place of reposition takes place. It is not allowed to expose the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance or even in a ciborium.

7. When the celebration has ended, the altar is stripped privately. It is fitting that any crosses be covered with red or purple veil. Lamps should not be lit before images of saints.

8. Holy water may be removed from all fonts. They are refilled with the water blessed at the Easter Vigil.

9. The faithful should be encouraged to adore the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable period of time during the night. When appropriate, this prolonged eucharistic adoration may be accompanied by reading of some part of the Gospel of John (Chapters 13-17).

*Here we have in the Philippines the Visita Iglesia.



GOOD FRIDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION




1. Today, Good Friday, and if possible, on Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil, the paschal fast and abstinence is observed everywhere to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more deeply in his resurrection.

2. It is recommended that there be communal celebration of the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. This Office, formerly called Tenebrae, could fittingly be celebrated by the Bishop in the cathedral with, as far as possible, the participation of the clergy and the laity.

3. The celebration of the Lord’s Passion takes place about three o’clock, unless pastoral reasons suggest a later hour. The Bishop may permit the liturgy to be repeated later for pastoral reasons. Those parts of the liturgy which should always be sung are: the general intercessions (the deacon’s invitation and acclamation of the people) and the chants for the showing and the veneration of the cross.

4. The Passion of the Lord is proclaimed as on Passion (Palm) Sunday.

5. Only one cross should be used for the veneration, as this contributes to the full symbolism of the rite. The cross is with the image of the crucified Christ. Crosses may be added for pastoral reason.

6. After the celebration, the altar is stripped, the cross remaining, however, with four candles. The faithful may continue to venerate the cross and spend some time in adoration



HOLY SATURDAY




1. The image of Christ crucified or lying in the tomb or the descent into hell, which mystery Holy Saturday recalls, as well as an image of the sorrowful Virgin Mary, can be placed in the church for the veneration of the faithful.

2. The faithful are to be instructed on the special character of Holy Saturday. Customs and traditions associated with this day on account of the former practice of anticipating the celebration of Easter on Holy Saturday should be reserved for Easter night and the day that follows.

3. The celebration of marriage is forbidden, as is also the celebration of other sacraments, except those of penance and the anointing of the sick.




EASTER VIGIL



1. The entire celebration of this vigil should take place at night, that is, it should begin after nightfall and end before the dawn of Sunday (General Norms, 21). This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. The Easter Vigil is not to be celebrated at the time of day that is customary for anticipated Sunday Masses.

2. The Exultet is sung by a deacon, or the priest, or any suitable cantor. The blessing is omitted if the Exultet is sung by one who is not deacon; the latter also omits the references to the deacons and the greetings: “The Lord be with you,” etc. One may sing the Easter proclamation either in the long or short form.

3. Nine readings are assigned to the Easter Vigil: seven from the Old Testament, two from the New Testament. If necessary, the number of readings may be reduced. But three selections from the Old Testament should be read before the Epistle and the Gospel, although, when necessary, two may be read. In any case, the reading from Exodus (no. 3) should always be used. This reading may end with, “Then Moses…sang this song to the Lord,” omitting the remaining text and conclusion, thus proceeding immediately to the canticle of Moses (cf. Lectionarium, editio typica)

4. Those parts unique to the Vigil which should always be sung are: the acclamations during the procession with the paschal candle and the Easter proclamation, the responsorial “Alleluia,” the Litany of Saints, and the acclamation after the blessing of water.

5. After the last reading from the Old Testament the candles at the altar are lit and the priest intones the Gloria. The bells are rung. After the Epistle follows the solemn Alleluia. Incense may be used at the Gospel but the candles are not carried to the lectern.

6. Communion is given only during the celebration of the Vigil Mass. Those who receive Holy Communion during the Vigil Mass may do so again at another Mass on Easter day.

7. Those who participate at the Easter Vigil fulfill their Sunday obligation.



EASTER SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION



1. The Mass of Easter Day should be celebrated with great solemnity. At this Mass, in place of the opening penitential rites, all are sprinkled with water blessed on Easter night, to recall their baptism.

2. The Easter candle, which should be placed near the ambo or near the altar, and kept there for the whole Easter season until the end of Pentecost Sunday. It should be lit for more solemn liturgical celebrations, namely Mass, Lauds, and Vespers, during Easter Season.



ENCUENTRO (Salubong)



Where the Encuentro takes place before the morning Easter Sunday Mass, usually the first Easter Mass, it is permitted and recommended that it be integrated into the Mass itself in the same way as is done on February 2 or after the Asperges on Sunday.

1. The presider greets the people with adapted welcome and greeting at the plaza or at the door of the church.

2. The Encuentro is celebrated as follows: the statues of the Risen Christ and of Our Lady meet and greet each other. Then both are brought processionally inside the church (sanctuary), while an appropriate Easter song and the Gloria are sung. Then the opening prayer follows. The introductory greeting and penitential rite are omitted.





( Courtesy: RCAM.ORG )