Holy Week 2007

Lent ends on the evening of Holy Thursday as the Church begins its annual celibration of the Sacred Triduum or the Three Days. Beginning with the Lord's Supper on Thursday night and continuing to Easter Sunday evening, these three days form the most important days of the Church year.

Why are these days so significant? Because our faith in Jesus dead and risen comes together in these three days. We penetrate in great depth the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection. We take three days to celebrate this great foundation of our faith because it is simply too powerful and rich for a one day celebration. Even though we take three days, it is still one mystery we celebrate.

The purpose of the Triduum is not to participate in a historical re-enactment of Christ‘s passion, death and resurrection. For we know that the lord is risen and will never die again. It is the risen Christ who calls us together to remember all he did to save us so that by remembering the Passover of the Lord, we might encounter again the saving grace of these sacred Events.

HOLY THURSDAY: As we begin our Triduum celebration on Thursday night at 7:00 pm, the first reading sets the tone for the next three days. We hear from the book of Exodus about the Jewish Passover, which Israel is instructed to keep as a living memorial of their liberation and covenant with God. In the Triduum, our Christian Passover. Jesus is the new Moses who will lead us out of the darkness and bondage of sin to the promised land of the Kingdom.

In the Gospel we find Jesus falling to his knees to wash the feet of the disciples. Washing the disciples’ feet was more than a kind deed. In humility, Jesus demonstrated his self-donation, the outpouring of his life for the liberation and redemption of the world. The foot washing is a preview of what Jesus will do on Calvary.

There has always been a special focus on the Eucharist on Holy Thursday. But our understanding of the Eucharist must he seen within the total framework of this evening’s liturgy, which centers on the Passover. The Eucharist is given to us at a great price: the very life of Jesus. When Jesus says, "do this in memory of me," he asks us not only to celebrate this ritual again and again, but also to pour out our lives in sacrifice for others as he did. We are to be Eucharist for each other. We must act out what we celebrate. We ritualize this when members of our community have their feet washed. (It is recommended that you come prepared to have your feet washed.) At the conclusion of this evening you are invited to remain in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. You are also invited to return during the period of prayer following the Holy Thursday celebration.

GOOD FRIDAY: On Good Friday we turn to the cross and the passion of Christ. We look on the cross not as a sign of defeat and hopelessness, but as a sign of victory over sin and death. The cross of Jesus is our sign of hope, the constant reminder of the price of love Jesus willingly accepted.

Good Friday will begin with the celebration of Morning Prayer at 8 a.m. This universal prayer is the church’s way of sanctifying the beginning of Good Friday.

We then continue our day of prayer as we celebrate the Stations of the Cross at noon (on our property). This will be a time to reflect on the pain, suffering and immense love Jesus has for us because of what he was willing to endure.

The liturgy for Good Friday will begin at 7:00 p.m. It is divided into three parts: the Liturgv of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Communion Rite. The Liturg of the Word revolves around the proclamation of the Passion from John's Gospel. John's Passion contains a powerful paradox: while Jesus is mocked and spat upon, he is still King and Victor.

During the second part of this liturgy we venerate the cross: which is a sober reminder of the price of our redemption. This same cross is also a sign of life and hope for us. No Christian can look upon the cross this day without hearing the invitation to take up their cross and follow Him. We are invited to venerate the cross by touching it, kissing it, genuflecting before it, etc. as a personal sign of reverence, faith and gratitude.

Following the veneration, we share in the Eucharist that was consecrated at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the previous evening. Again you are invited to stay in silent prayer before the Cross, while the worship space remains open.

HOLY SATURDAY: On Holy Saturday, the Church awaits at the Lord's tomb. reflecting on his suffering and death. Holy Saturday will begin with the celebration of Morning Prayer at 8 a.m. This universal prayer is the church’s way of honoring the begining of Holy Saturday. This is a day of "quiet” and hope. Christians are asked to keep this day as a day of prayer and gratitude, a day of expectation and preparation... The Church is invited to join those to be initiated in prayer and ritual as a final preparation for their full initiation that evening.

THE EASTER VIGIL: The Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night. This is the holiest of all nights of the church year. This liturgy beautifully expresses our passage from death to life, darkness to light, suffering to glory. It is on this night that we discover our identity as God’s people, led by the light of Christ, baptized into his death and resurrection, and sharing with one another in Eucharist his risen presence and future glory. On this night we celebrate the totality of our faith.

The Vigil is composed of four parts: the Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Initiation, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist:

SERVICE OF LIGHT: We begin the Vigil in the dark outside (weather permitting) to remind us of the horrible darkness of life without Christ. At this point a new fire will be ignited and blessed. In this fire we see Christ who this night casts out the darkness of sin and death. From this fire we light the new Easter candle, which becomes a symbol of the risen Christ present among us.

LITURGY OF THE WORD: This evening we have an extended Liturgv of the Word that covers all of salvation history starting with creation and ending with the resurrection. We hear all that has led up to this night, how God from age to age has willed the salvation of all humankind, a promise fulfilled in the person of Jesus. It recounts the story of who we are as Christians.

LITURGY OF INITIATION: All of Lent has led to this night when the Church calls the elect and candidates to the Easter sacraments. It will be our pleasure to receive many women and men. Many will be baptized and each of these people will receive the sacrament of Confirmation and will receive their first Eucharist.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: The final part of the Vigil is the celebration of the first Eucharist of Easter. We give thanks for Christ our Paschal Lamb, and like the disciples at Emmaus, we come to discover Christ present with us at the breaking of the bread.

Obviously the Easter Vigil Liturgy takes more time than an ordinary Sunday Mass. It is more of a nocturnal retreat than a Mass. But this is truly the most significant liturgy of the year. All Sundays and Feasts lead up to and flow from this evening. Were we to rush through this or abbreviate it we would be depriving ourselves of a most inspiring and deeply religious service.

Easter Sunday: Sunday is the completion of Holy Week and the beginning of the seven week Easter Season leading up to Pentecost. The regular Sunday schedule holds: 7:45 am; 9:15 am, 11:00 am.