week #17 holy week

RCIA – Holy Week #17

Week #17

Holy Week


The Paschal Triduum

� Holy Week� The Chrism Mass� What is the Triduum?� How did it Develop?� Holy Thursday� Good Friday� The Great Easter Vigil� Easter Day


Holy Week� The week preceding Easter.� Final week of Lent. � Begins with Palm Sunday and ends with

Holy Saturday.� Holy Week is not a liturgical term or a

season in the Church Year.� Holy Week is the second week of

Passiontide which begins on the 5th Sunday of Lent.


Palm or Passion Sunday?

� Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord◦ Commemoration of the Lord's Entrance

into Jerusalem.◦ Preferably gathering in a place other

than inside the church building.◦ Greeting.


Palm or Passion Sunday?

� Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord◦ Gospel Reading of the Entry into

Jerusalem.◦ Procession.◦ Mass continues as usual.◦ Reading of the Passion from

either Matthew, Mark or Luke.


Prior to the Sacred Triduum

� Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week.◦ Follows a sequential reading of St. John's

Gospel, Chapters 12-13.


Prior to the Sacred Triduum

� Spy Wednesday◦ Reading of the Betrayal of Jesus by Judas

Iscariot, indicating that it is the day that Judas Iscariot first conspired with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins.


The Chrism Mass

� Generally celebrated during Holy Week.� The bishop, joined by the priests of the

diocese, gather at the Cathedral to celebrate the Chrism Mass.


The Chrism Mass� Bishop blesses three oils…◦ The Oil of Catechumens◦ The Oil of the Sick◦ Holy Chrism

� These oils will be used in the administration of the sacraments. throughout the diocese for the year.

� Tradition of this Mass goes back to the Early 5th Century.


The Chrism Mass

� Priests renew their vows before the bishop remembering that it was at the Last Supper that Christ instituted the Ordained Priesthood.


The Sacred Triduum


What is the Paschal Triduum?

� Easter Triduum, Holy Triduum, Paschal Triduum, or The Great Three Days.

� It is one celebration with three distinct parts recognizing the Paschal Mystery of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.


What is the Paschal Triduum?

� Begins in the evening on Thursday with the Mass of the Lord's Supper.◦ Lent ends with the beginning of the

Mass and the Season of the Sacred Triduum begins.

◦ Are the most sacred days in the Church Year.


How did the Triduum begin?

� Began and an intense time of preparation for catechumens prior to baptism at the Easter Vigil.

� Sinners were reconciled with the Churchon Holy Thursday Evening.

� The Sacred Triduum was revived and reestablished in 1955 with the Liturgical Reforms of Pope Pius XII.


Fun Facts about the Triduum

� The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday and ends at Easter Vigil◦ It is one continuous liturgy.

� No Masses can be celebrated on Good Friday.

� No Weddings or Funeral Masses can be celebrated during the Triduum.


Fun Facts about the Triduum

� The only sacraments that can be celebrated outside of the prescribedliturgies are Reconciliation and The Anointing of the Sick.

� The Triduum is the most ancient liturgy of the Church.◦ Most parts date back to the Early 2nd

Century (125 AD).


Holy Thursday


Thursday of the Lord Supper

� Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday and Thursday of Mysteries.



� Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the Sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood. The holy day falls on the Thursday before Easter and is part of Holy Week.



� Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover Feast. Christ would fulfill His role as the Christian victim of the Passover for all to be saved by His final sacrifice.

� The Last Supper was the final meal Jesusshared with his Disciples in Jerusalem. During the meal, Jesus predicts his betrayal.



� The central observance of Holy Thursdayis the commemoration of the Last Supper at Mass. This event is celebrated at every Mass, as party of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, but it is specially commemorated on Holy Thursday.



� He also establishes the special priesthood for his disciples, which is distinct from the "Priesthood of All Believers." Christ washed the feet of his Disciples, who would become the first priests.

� This establishment of the priesthood reenacted at Mass with the priest washing the feet of several parishioners.



� During the Passover Meal, Jesus breaks bread and gives it to his Disciples, uttering the words, "This is my body, which is given for you." Subsequently, he passes a cup filled with wine. He then says, "This is my blood..." It is believed those who eat of Christ's flesh and blood shall have eternal life.



� In the evening is the Mass of the Lord's Supper. This includes the washing of the feet. The Mass is concluded by stripping the sanctuary of all decoration (flowers, altar cloth, banners etc) and by the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle to the Altar of Repose, usually a side altar or chapel.



� The congregation is encouraged to ‘keep watch' with Christ, as Jesus asked the disciples to keep watch while he prayed in the Garden.

� KEY THEMES: ◦ Agony in the Garden: keeping vigil with

Jesus.◦ Servant leadership: washing of feet.



� The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word for Commandment (Mandatum).◦ As I have done so you must do – Foot

Washing.◦ "A new commandment," that they "love

one another." ◦ "Do this in memory of me."


The Liturgy on Holy Thursday◦ The Tabernacle is empty.◦ The Font is drained.◦ The presentation of the Holy Oils.◦ The Singing of the Gloria – with Bells.

� The ancient tradition of the Church states that the organ and bells are silenced from the Gloria on Holy Thursday until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil.


The Liturgy on Holy Thursday

� Liturgy of the Word◦ Story of the Passover from Exodus, The

Institution Narrative from 1 Corinthians and the Foot Washing from the Gospel of John.



� Liturgy of the Word◦ The Washing of Feet

� Not mandatory on Holy Thursday.� Goes back to early Church. First

official reference is 12th Centurywhen the Pope washed feet of twelve deacons.



� The Collection is for the poor.� After receiving Communion at Mass…◦ The Eucharist is left on the Altar.◦ A procession to Place of Reposition,

preferably outside of the church.◦ Altar in church is stripped bare.◦ No ending of Mass – all depart in silence.


GoodFriday


Good Friday

� Good Friday is the day on which Catholics commemorate the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Catholics are joined by almost all other Christians in solemn commemoration on this day. It is also a legal holiday around much of the world.


Good Friday

� According to the Gospels, Jesus was betrayed by Judas on the night of the Last Supper, commemorated on Holy Thursday. The morning following Christ's arrest, he was brought before Annas, a powerful Jewish cleric.


Good Friday

� Annas condemned Jesus for blasphemy for refusing to repudiate Annas' words that He was the Son of God. From there, Jesus was sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the province.


Good Friday

� Pontius Pilate questioned Jesus but found no reason to condemn Him. Instead, he suggested Jewish leaders deal with Jesusaccording to their own law. But under Roman law, they could not execute Jesus, so they appealed to Pilate to issue the order to kill Jesus.


Good Friday

� Pilate appealed to King Herod, who found no guilt in Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate once again. Pilate declared Jesus to be innocent and washed his hands to show that he wanted nothing to do with Jesus, but the crowds were enraged.


Good Friday

� To prevent a riot and to protect his station, Pilate reluctantly agreed to execute Jesus and sentenced him to crucifixion. Jesus was convicted of proclaiming himself to be the King of the Jews.


Good Friday� Before his execution, Jesus was flogged,

which was a customary practice intended to weaken a victim before crucifixion. Crucifixion was an especially painful method of execution and was perfected by the Romans as such. It was reserved for the worst criminals; in general, Roman citizens, women and soldiers were exempt in most cases.


Good Friday� During his flogging, the soldiers tormented

Jesus, crowning Him with thorns and ridicule.

� Following his flogging, Jesus was compelled to carry his cross to the place of His execution, at Calvary. During his walk to the site of His execution, Jesus fell three times and the Roman guards randomly selected Simon, a Cyrene, to help Jesus.


Good Friday

� After arrival at Calvary, Jesus was nailed to the cross and crucified between two thieves. One of the thieves repented of his sins and accepted Christ while on the cross beside Him. A titulus, or sign, was posted above Christ to indicate His supposed crime.


Good Friday� The titulus read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King

of the Jews." It is commonly abbreviated in Latin as "INRI" (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum).

� During Christ's last few hours on the cross, darkness fell over the whole land. Jesus was given a sponge with sour wine mixed with Gall (a weak, bitter painkiller often given to crucified victims).


Good Friday� Prior to death, Jesus spoke His last words,

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This line is the opening of Psalm 22and it may have been common practice to recite lines of songs to deliver a greater message. Properly understood, the last words of Christ were triumphant. Guards then lanced Jesus' side to ensure He was dead.


Good Friday� At the moment of Christ's death, an

earthquake occurred, powerful enough to open tombs. The long, thick curtain at the Temple was said to have torn from top to bottom.

� Following the incredible events of the day, the body of Christ was removed from the cross and laid in a donated tomb, buried according to custom.


Good Friday� The events of Good Friday are

commemorated in the Stations of the Cross, a fourteen-step devotion often celebrated by Catholics during Lent and especially on Good Friday. The Stations of the Cross are commonly recited on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. Another devotional, the Acts of Reparation, may also be prayed.


Good Friday

� Good Friday is a day of fasting within the church. Traditionally, there is no Mass and no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday. A Liturgy may still be celebrated and communion, if taken, comes from hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday.


Good Friday

� Penance and Anointing of the Sick may be celebrated on this day. Church bells are silent; altars are left bare.


Good Friday

� Traditionally, two services are offered on this day…◦ The Stations (or Way) of the Cross◦ The Celebration of the Lord's Passion,

customarily at 3:00 p.m.


Good Friday

� The Stations of the Cross:There are a variety of traditions for encountering The Stations of the Cross and there are two approved versions. The traditional fourteen stations are adorned on the walls of the church building, which date back to St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th Century.


Good Friday

� Celebration of the Lord's Passion:This is not a Mass but is a Communion Service with theVeneration of the Cross where the faithful are invited to kiss the feet of Jesus on a Crucifix or show some other sign of reverence.


Good Friday

� KEY THEMES: Both services help us to focus on the suffering and death of Jesus which he undertook out of love for each one of us personally.◦ REPENTANCE FOR OUR SINS.

Often, the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) is also available on this day.


Good Friday

� KEY THEMES: Both services help us to focus on the suffering and death of Jesuswhich he undertook out of love for each one of us personally.◦ SACRIFICIAL LOVE. Cross,

crucifix, nails, blood, eclipse, earth tremors, darkness, the use of the color red.


Good Friday

� Friday of the Passion of the Lord◦ Generally, only one service is held

between 3:00 p.m. and no later than 9:00 p.m.

◦ No Mass is celebrated on Good Friday.◦ No candles – no altar cloth – no

flowers.◦ The congregation gathers in silence.


Good Friday

� The liturgy has four distinct parts◦ Prostration before the Altar.◦ The Liturgy of the Word.

� With the Solemn Intercessions◦ The Veneration of the Cross.◦ The Reception of Holy Communion.


Holy Saturday


About Holy Saturday

� Holy Saturday is the period of Holy Week when Catholics remember Jesus' entombment. It is a preparation day. Today is a day of quiet and prayerful reflection on the true gravity of the crucifixion and Jesus' redemptive sacrifice.


About Holy Saturday

� Throughout the world, Catholic church worship spaces are empty of the Blessed Sacrament and remain quiet in anticipation of Easter's triumph over darkness and evil, sin and death.


About Holy Saturday

� The quietness of the day permits us to ponder the implications of physical death and how each of us in life and death, affects others. The day before Easter also permits the Elect and the Catechumens a period of solitude and reflection as they prepare to participate in a most meaningful manner in the Sacraments of Initiation.


About Holy Saturday

� After the frantic activities of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday & Good Friday... Holy Saturday is a pregnant pause before the realization of the resurrection is realized on Easter Sunday Morning.


About Holy Saturday

� This period should be prayerful and quiet, as well as contemplative of the chronological and historical events that we call the Passion. This day should also provide anticipatory happiness as we prepare to celebrate the New Passover.


About Holy Saturday

� Holy Saturday permits us to deeply saturate our parched theological spirits in images of the waters of Baptism, and symbols of restored life. This evening, Mother Church will initiate a new fire and the Paschal Candle will stand in our churches providing radiant light and reminding us of Jesus' Easter triumph.


About Holy Saturday

� We will profess our faith in the Creed, along with our newly initiated brothers and sisters. We will partake in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, now the unbloody commemoration of Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.


About Holy Saturday

� In our churches, new water will be blessed and there will be a sprinkling over all of us to recount our sacramental incorporation through the living waters of baptism, the warming power of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation and the nourishment provided through our Eucharist, Jesus, the Bread of Life.


About Holy Saturday� It is a good and appropriate thing that this

Holy Saturday period is quiet and contemplative, relaxed and subtly expectant.

� The Easter Vigil and all subsequent liturgies of Easter will explode our sensual perceptions and provide us with a liturgical extravaganza of auditory, tactile and sensory stimulations.


About Holy Saturday� As we participate in the theological burst

of liturgical expressions of Jesus' resurrected glory, we are able to closely relate to the Apostles, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to all the believers in Jerusalem on that first Easter Morning. Sorrow turns to joy, darkness is transformed into new light and our joyous expectations of new and eternal life are renewed.


About Holy Saturday

� Our faith will again feel the intensity of the Paschal Mystery as the entire communion of the Church proclaims, "Alleluia! Alleluia!"


About Holy Saturday

� We should most deeply recall the prayer from the blessing of the Paschal Candle… "Christ yesterday and today, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega. All time belongs to Him and all glory, forever and ever. Amen."


The Great Easter Vigil



� A Vigil of Prayer, Fasting and Waiting� During the Night� The Liturgy◦ Part I: The Lucernarum – The Service of

Light and the Blessing of the Paschal Candle

◦ The singing of the Exsultet or Easter Proclamation.



� Part II: The Liturgy of the Word◦ Nine Readings prescribed

� Seven Old Testament� One Epistle� Gospel

◦ Tells the Story of Salvation



� Part II: The Liturgy of the Word◦ The Gloria is sung between the last Old

Testament reading and the Epistle.◦ The Alleluia with Gospel procession.



� Part III: Baptismal Liturgy◦ Led by Paschal Candle◦ Litany of Saints◦ Blessing of Water◦ Baptism of Catechumens◦ Renewal of Baptismal Vows◦ Confirmation of Newly Baptized



� Part IV: The Liturgy of the Eucharist◦ The culmination of the Vigil◦ The Great and Solemn Blessing with the

dismissal◦ The Triduum comes to a close with

Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday Evening.

week #17 holy week

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