The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, led by Father Francis Mary and Father Pio, offered us a very moving and enlightening parish mission this past week. Thank you for turning out in such great numbers, allowing this Lenten journey to include the gift of time to listen to the Word, to be challenged by that word, to enter into the presence of Christ more fully, and to receive the Sacrament of Confession. Thank you to Denise Contino and the Faith Formation Committee for making these arrangements.
Father JM and I had a very relaxing and positive retreat experience last week. It was good to be away and it also provided us time to just be together, an experience which, given our unusual living situation here, we don’t get to do as often as we ought. This is the last full week of Lent as next Sunday is the celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.
This is a beautiful celebration, leading us into the celebration of the Sacred Triduum. I will speak more of the Triduum in next week’s letter. For this week, I want to make the following point of emphasis and explanation about what we are doing next weekend.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) is the instruction as to the celebration of each aspect of the Mass and sacraments (rubrics). For Palm Sunday, the instruction says: “At an appropriate hour, a gathering takes place at a smaller church or other suitable place other than inside the church to which the procession will go. The faithful hold branches in their hands.”
The point of this gathering for the proclamation of the Gospel is so that we can get a sense of procession within the Liturgy. Therefore, for all of the Masses next Sunday (Palm Sunday) Mass will begin in the Gym/Cafeteria of the School. There will be a few chairs in the room for those who need to sit, but the brief rite expects that we are standing during this time. We will then all process into the church to continue with the Mass.
The rubrics explain it this way: “The Procession to the church where Mass will be celebrated then sets off in the usual way. If incense is used, the thurifer goes first, carrying a thurible with burning incense, then an acolyte or another minister, carrying a cross decorated with palm branches according to local custom, between two ministers with lighted candles. Then follow the Deacon carrying the Book of the Gospels, the Priest with the ministers, and, after them, all the faithful carrying branches. As the procession moves forward, the following or other suitable chants in honor of Christ the King are sung by the choir and people.”
This is the first of the three processions of Holy Week, the other two we will consider next week.
It is my fervent hope and desire that our celebrations during Holy Week – Passion/Palm Sunday and the Triduum are as solemn and as beautiful as possible. The more prayerfully we can enter into these sacred mysteries the more we can be transformed by the depth of the symbols and beautiful words which we express and share as a church.
May the Blessings of the Lord be with all of you,
Father Garry