Some please shed some light: What is Watching at the Altar of Repose Until Midnight

[AzrealGelert]

So I am hoping to be baptized next easter. (long story).

I am wanting to attend all the Easter Masses and other “things” going on at the Church.

The office is now closed so i cant get an answer on this.

I looked at the Bulletin to see what time the Mass of the Lords supper was tonight, and here is what it says:

**7pm Mass of the Lords Supper

Watching at the Altar of Repose Until Midnight**

What is Watching at the Altar of Repose Until Midnight?? Is this part of the mass? does the mass really last from 7pm until midnight? or is Watching at the Altar of Repose Until Midnight something different what happens after the mass?? Could I attend the mass, then come home for a bit, and go back at say 11pm to the church still being open?

sorry for repeating myself…but i suppose the simply question is…what IS Watching at the Altar of Repose Until Midnight?

 

[leighland]

The Watching walk is a tour of 7 Catholic Churches on Holy Thursday to visit Our Lord in the Tabernacle.
There is a great article on in in Zenit.org today as below

zenit.org/en/articles/holy-thursday-and-the-altars-of-repose

I wish I lived in an area where a bunch of us could walk to each church.
There may be a Partial Indugence with this but I’m not sure

 

[Monica4316]

I had a different interpretation than the previous poster? Maybe more would comment and it would be clearer

My understanding is that this is praying before the Altar of Repose until midnight. It’s not part of the Mass, it’s after Mass. It’s like Adoration… just praying, individually, silently. The Eucharist would be reserved there instead of the Tabernacle.

It’s beautiful and I attended one time when it was offered at my parish, no you don’t have to stay all the hours, though you can it’s just like individual prayer, not the Mass.

God bless!

 

[Jeanne_S]

I had a different interpretation than the previous poster? Maybe more would comment and it would be clearer

My understanding is that this is praying before the Altar of Repose until midnight. It’s not part of the Mass, it’s after Mass. It’s like Adoration… just praying, individually, silently. The Eucharist would be reserved there instead of the Tabernacle.

It’s beautiful and I attended one time when it was offered at my parish, no you don’t have to stay all the hours, though you can it’s just like individual prayer, not the Mass.

God bless!

This is the case at my parish.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

It is simply Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Many parishes do it after Mass on Holy Thursday. I am not sure how the tradition started. You can come and go as you please, you certainly don’t have to stay the whole time.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

It is symbolic of the Apostles being told to pray while Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane.