Pope Francis has announced his Holy Week schedule which begins begins on Palm Sunday, March 25th, with the celebration of the thirty-third World Youth Day, celebrated at the diocesan level.
This year’s World Youth Day has the theme, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.” Those are the words of the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin at the Annunciation, as related in the Gospel of St Luke.
For the diocese of Rome, the celebration will take place in St Peter’s Square, with Pope Francis presiding at the Blessing of Palms and the Procession for Palm Sunday, followed by the Mass of the Passion of the Lord.
On Holy Thursday, the Chrism Mass will be celebrated in St Peter’s Basilica.
During the Chrism Mass, the local Bishop consecrates and blesses the Sacred Oils – Chrism, used for Confirmation, and also in the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Orders; the Oil of Catechumens, also used in Baptism; and the Oil of the Sick, for the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. In Rome, the blessed oils are taken to the Cathedral Church, the Archbasilica of St John Lateran, where they are dispensed to the parishes throughout the diocese.
On Thursday evening, Pope Francis will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, commemorating the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist and of the Priesthood. Following a custom established at the very beginning of his pontificate, the Pope will say the Mass in a prison, this year at the Regina Coeli. During the liturgy, Pope Francis will wash the feet of twelve inmates, in imitation of the actions of Jesus Himself at the Last Supper.
The following day, Good Friday, Pope Francis will preside at the solemn liturgical Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. The service on Good Friday is not a Mass, as the Holy Eucharist is not celebrated. The ritual consists in the Liturgy of the Word; the Adoration of the Cross; and the Rite of Communion, where Hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday are distributed to priests and faithful.
Following the Liturgy, Pope Francis will travel across town to the Colosseum, where he will officiate at the Via Crucis, the Way of the Cross. The Holy Father will offer a reflection at the conclusion of the service, followed by his Apostolic Blessing.
The rites of Holy Week reach their climax during the Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday, the “Mother of all Vigils.” The ceremony begins with the lighting of the new fire, which will take place in the atrium of St Peter’s Basilica. Then, with the Paschal Candle, the ministers will process to the sanctuary, where Pope Francis will preside at the Solemn Mass.
Finally, on the morning of Easter Sunday, Pope Francis will celebrate the Solemn Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord in Saint Peter’s Square. Following the Mass, the Holy Father will give his Blessing Urbi et Orbi – to the City and to the world.”
These are the holiest days of the Church’s Liturgical Year.
Let us celebrate their meaning with faith and be both peaceful and joyful in the salvation which the Lord Jesus has provided by His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
Respecting the solemnity of these days, I shall not be posting a daily article again until after the celebration of Easter Sunday!
A Blessed Holy Week for all of us, I pray!
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