April 13, 2017 - Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday):
Today, we have
the Chrism Mass in the morning and
the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the evening.
The Chrism Mass:
Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, who anointed your Only Begotten Son with the Holy Spirit
and made him Christ and Lord,
graciously grant
that, being made sharers in his consecration,
we may bear witness to your Redemption in the world.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”
"1. The
Chrism Mass is one of the principal expressions of the fullness of the Bishop’s priesthood and signifies the close unity of the priests with him. During this Mass, which he celebrates with priests of the diocese, the Bishop consecrates the Chrism and blesses the other oils.
- This Mass takes place on Thursday morning. The concelebrants may also (con)celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper…
- Those receiving communion at the Chrism Mass may receive again in the evening, at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper …
- The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, ending with the conclusion of Vespers on Easter Sunday…" (Excerpt from Ordo.)
The Sacred Paschal Triduum begins this evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper:
“This Mass is, first of all, the memorial of the institution of the Eucharist, that is of the memorial of the Lord’s Passover, by which under sacramental signs he perpetuated among us the sacrifice of the New Law.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)
Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, who have called us to participate
in this most sacred Supper,
in which your Only Begotten Son,
when about to hand himself over to death,
entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity,
the banquet of his love,
grant, we pray,
that we may draw from so great a mystery,
the fullness of charity and of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”
Today’s Scripture readings and reflections:
usccb.org/bible/reflections/
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-04-13
The Sacred Paschal Triduum:
“CHRIST REDEEMED US ALL and gave perfect glory to God principally through His paschal mystery: dying He destroyed our death and rising He restored our life. Therefore, the Easter Triduum of the passion, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. Thus the solemnity of Easter has the same kind of preeminence in the liturgical year that Sunday has in the week. The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with the evening prayer on Easter Sunday.” (General Norms, 18 - 19.)
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
“On this day, when
‘Christ our paschal lamb was sacrificed’ (1Cor 5:7), what had long been promised in signs and figures was at last revealed and brought to fulfillment. The true lamb replaced the symbolic lamb, and the many offerings of the past gave way to the single sacrifice of Christ.” (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)
Resources for Lent from USCCB:
www.usccb.org/lent
Holy Week and Easter 2017 from EWTN:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/holy-week-and-easter.asp