Holy Week has begun
By Father Larry Kramer of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, Columbia City
With this past weekend, we begin the holiest observance of the whole liturgical year. The palms remind us of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and our own on-again-off-again welcoming of Christ into our lives. The reading of His Passion brings home what human treachery can do to God’s plan.
Tuesday evening’s Chrism Mass at the Cathedral is a happy interruption of Lenten seriousness as we join the bishop in the blessing of the oils to be used throughout the diocese in sacraments of initiation and healing. We also witness our priests’ restatement of their commitment to God and to us.
By Thursday afternoon we will have finished the forty days of Lent, the “springtime of the Church”. An informal fellowship supper at 6:30 p.m. sets us up for the 8 p.m. evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which recalls the lesson of the washing of the disciples’ feet and the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Extra bread is consecrated at this Mass to be honored in procession and placed in a special tabernacle or “repository” in the Blessed Sacrament chapel where we may spend time in thoughtful appreciation of the Eucharist in our lives any time until midnight, when the day of the Passion of the Lord begins.
The main body of the church is empty, although people are welcome to drop in for private prayer, until the Good Friday Liturgy. This is not a Mass, although it concludes with Holy Communion reserved from the Holy Thursday evening Mass. The main features of this simple Liturgy are the Passion readings and the veneration of the Cross.
Good Friday is a special day of fast and abstinence from meat in preparation for the great Easter celebration Saturday night and Sunday, which will complete the Sacred Triduum (three days) of the Easter festival.
The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night at 8 p.m. is better experienced than described. The blessing of fire and the Easter Candle, the readings about Baptism, the initiation of new members, the renewal of our own baptism, the Easter Eucharist and the reception afterwards in the parish hall—all provide a great kickoff for the 50-day celebration of the Easter season.
Of all the great feasts of the Church Year, the Easter celebration is by far the greatest. Welcome to it, and bring a friend!