Reflection for Holy Week  (First of three parts)

Holy Week:

The Catholic Church celebrates during the Holy Week the mysteries of salvation accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ in the last days of His earthly life. It began last Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, commemorating our Lord's messianic entry into Jerusalem, until His blessed Passion and glorious Resurrection.

With the easing of restrictions on the pandemic, the traditional observance of Holy Week is likely to proceed, although with certain basic protocols to keep everyone safe from the COVID-19 virus.

The faithful are encouraged to reflect more deeply on the Passion of our Lord during the Holy Week.

The Paschal Triduum:

The last three days of Holy Week, April 14-16 of 2022, are called the Sacred Paschal Triduum. These are the most holy days of the liturgical year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On these days the Church celebrates the Paschal Mystery, meaning the passion, suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, followed  by His Resurrection, the triumph of the holy cross and Christ's decisive victory over sin and death.

The Paschal Mystery, or Triduum is a single feast, but celebrated over three days.  We must attend the entire three days of the Triduum to complete the celebration.

Holy Thursday (April 14, 2022) - Day 1

In the morning of Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday), the Chrism Mass is celebrated by the bishop with his priest in the diocese to signify the close unity of the priests with him. During this Mass the bishop consecrates the Chrism and other oils (consecrated oil used in the administration of certain sacraments and in the performance of certain ecclesiastical functions) in the Church's liturgies.

(The Chrism Mass may be transferred to an earlier day within the Holy Week for justifiable reason.)

The afternoon of Holy Thursday is the celebration of the Mass of the Last Supper, at which Jesus instituted the Holy Mass and the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist.

The reenactment of the washing of the feet of the twelve disciples is done usually by the priest celebrant. The group of men (or sometimes with women) whose feet are to be washed should, as much as possible, represent a cross-section of the local community. The number is traditionally twelve, representing the twelve disciples, though there is no exact requirement.

At the Offertory part of the Mass the faithful are encouraged to offer gifts in cash or in kind for the needy members of the community. It is an opportunity to share material blessings with them as a concrete witnessing of Jesus' humility and love for us, especially the poor and the needy.

The ciborium with consecrated Hosts for Communion on the following day (Good Friday) is left on the altar. Following the prayer by the priest after Communion, the transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament to the place of repose takes place. It is not allowed to expose the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance or even in a ciborium. The Blessed Sacrament is reposed. Also, it is not allowed to repose the Blessed Sacrament outside the Church.

When the celebration of the afternoon Mass has ended, the altar is stripped privately. That means any crosses be covered with red or purple veil. Even lamps should not be lit before images of saints.

Also, the organ music is silent from Holy Thursday, Good Friday until the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil, as well as bells and other instruments; the only music permitted during this period is unaccompanied chant.

The faithful are encouraged to do the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the night of Holy Thursday, just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before the betrayal of Judas.

For Filipino Catholics, the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is done through the traditional "Bisita Iglesia" by families or with group of friends or relatives.

The Liturgical celebration on Holy Thursday, from the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper to the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a blessed opportunity for us to reflect on the practical meaning of the Eucharist in our lives, given the powerful symbolism of foot washing which our Lord Jesus Christ did to His apostles. The Holy Eucharist should inspire us to serve others as well for our Lord's sake.

Part 2 and 3 in following days).

Ad Jesum per Mariam!