Holy Week arrives, officially with First Vespers of Saturday evening, April 9, anticipating Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. Having entered into Passiontide last Sunday, we have seen this week extra candles lit on the altar for Mass, a Latin response and a Latin hymn sung at Vespers, and additional changes to mark the impending arrival of the Holy Triduum. The School community will be present for most of the liturgical celebrations of the week, from the procession with palms to the proclamation of the Exsultet for the Easter Vigil.  

“On this day the Church recalls the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish his Paschal Mystery. Accordingly, the memorial of this entrance of the Lord takes place at all Masses, by means of the Procession or the Solemn Entrance before the principal Mass or the Simple Entrance before other Masses. The Solemn Entrance, but not the Procession, may be repeated before other Masses that are usually celebrated with a large gathering of people. …The Procession: The congregation assembles in a secondary place where the palms are blessed and sprinkled with holy water and the passage of the entrance of Jesus is read with this gospel proclaimed in the usual way. The procession into the church is led by the incense, cross, candles, Gospel Book, priest, and then follow the people carrying palm branches. Upon entering the church the priest venerates the altar, incenses it, then goes to the chair.” (Roman Missal) 

 

 

The Lord’s Supper

 “The principal mysteries that are commemorated in this Mass are the institution of the Holy Eucharist and of the priestly order, and the commandment of the Lord concerning fraternal charity. *According to ancient tradition, all Masses without a congregation are forbidden today. ...*From Thursday morning and throughout the Easter Triduum, funeral Masses are forbidden; *The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated in the evening at a convenient time; *Holy Communion may be distributed to the faithful only during Mass; but it may be brought to the sick at any hour of the day; *The altar may be adored with flowers in moderation; *The tabernacle should be empty; but a sufficient amount of bread should be consecrated in this Mass for the Communion of the clergy and the people on this and the following day.” (Roman Missal) 

 

 

Stations of the Cross by Meinrad Burch in the Abbey church

“The central celebration of this day is the Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion. Holy Communion is distributed to the faithful only during this liturgy, though it may be brought at any time of the day to the sick who cannot take part in the celebration... The Liturgy of the Word concludes with the Solemn Intercessions, which take place in this way: the Deacon, if a Deacon is present, or if he is not, a lay minister, stands at the ambo, and sings or says the invitation in which the intention is expressed. Then all pray in silence for a while, and afterwards the Priest, standing at the chair or, if appropriate, at the altar, with hands extended, sings or says the prayer. The faithful may remain either kneeling or standing throughout the entire period of the prayers.” (Roman Missal) 

 

 

Brother Sixtus Roslevich shares the above prayer with us, with the following story: “Here is the photo of the prayer in the handwriting of my grandfather (1888-1970). He lived with us for the last 13 years of his life after my grandmother died. Every Good Friday when he was with us, I saw him sitting in his rocker between 12 and 3 p.m. on Good Friday with his 33-bead chaplet rosary using this piece of paper. My mother had the foresight to preserve it for me.”

 

 

 
Richard Lippold’s “Trinity” in Abbey church

“The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night: 1. By most ancient tradition, this is the night of keeping vigil for the Lord (Ex 12:42), in which, following the Gospel admonition (Lk 12:35-37), the faithful, carrying lighted lamps in their hands, should be like those looking for the Lord when he returns, so that at his coming he may find them awake and have them sit at his table. 2. Of this night’s Vigil, which is the greatest and most noble of all solemnities, there is to be only one celebration in each church. It is arranged, moreover, in such a way that after the Lucernarium and Easter Proclamation (which constitutes the first part of this Vigil), Holy Church meditates on the wonders the Lord God has done for his people from the beginning, trusting in his word and promise (the second part, that is, the Liturgy of the Word) until, as day approaches, with new members reborn in Baptism (the third part), the Church is called to the table the Lord has prepared for his people, the memorial of his Death and Resurrection until he comes again (the fourth part)” (Roman Missal). “The Easter Vigil is a nocturnal vigil, retaining its ancient character of vigilance and expectation; it begins in darkness and at an hour later than the usual anticipated Sunday Mass” (Paschalis Solemnitatis) …The Paschal Candle... should be made of wax, never be artificial, be renewed each year, and be of sufficiently large size that it may convey the truth that Christ is the light of the world. The Paschal Candle is the symbol of the ‘light of Christ, rising in glory,’ scattering the darkness of sin and death. Choice of size, design, and colour should be made in relationship to the sanctuary in which it will be placed. Preferably placed near the ambo, it should be lighted for all liturgical celebrations of the Easter season (cf. Paschalis Solemnitatis). The monastic community welcomes all to attend these sacred liturgies. The School will be present for all liturgies through the Easter Vigil. 

In addition to the Easter Vigil, the monastic community celebrates a conventual Mass of Easter Day on Easter Sunday. All are welcome for this Mass, which occurs during the School’s Easter weekend break.