Thursday night they're having a Prison Service

  • Thread starter Thread starter Truthstalker
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Truthstalker

Guest
Down at the cathedral, announced the priest, they are having a prison service Thursday night. What is that? Or is it a chrism service, and what is that? Or is it something else that I didn’t hear very well? And what is it?

What are they doing down at the cathedral Thursday night, and why should I care?
 
Truthstalker said:
Down at the cathedral, announced the priest, they are having a prison service Thursday night. What is that? Or is it a chrism service, and what is that? Or is it something else that I didn’t hear very well? And what is it?

What are they doing down at the cathedral Thursday night, and why should I care?
Click to expand...
I should think it would be “Chrism,” but that’s usually during Holy Week. It’s when the bishop blesses all the oils to be used in the various sacraments, with all the priests in the diocese around him, to renew or reaffirm their ordination vows.

Wouldn’t a prison service be IN a prison?
 
JKirkLVNV said:
I should think it would be “Chrism,” but that’s usually during Holy Week. It’s when the bishop blesses all the oils to be used in the various sacraments, with all the priests in the diocese around him, to renew or reaffirm their ordination vows.

Wouldn’t a prison service be IN a prison?
Click to expand...
I thought that Chrism service was done during Holy Week before Holy Thursday. AFAIK, the only Mass allowed on Holy Thursday is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which is an evening Mass. For instance, in my diocese, the Chrism Mass is being held at the cathedral on Tuesday 3 April at 7 p.m.
 
The Chrism Mass is where the oils used by priests are blessed.

Usually it is on the morning of Holy Thursday. From the Ceremonial of Bishops:

“275. The blessing of the oil of the sick and the oil of catechumens and the consecration of the chrism are ordinarily done by the bishop at the Chrism Mass celebrated on Holy Thursday morning.
If it is difficult for the clergy and the people to assemble with the bishop on Holy Thursday morning, the blessing may be held on an earlier day, near Easter, with the celebration of the proper Chrism Mass.
276. Because of its meaning and pastoral importance in the life of the diocese, the Chrism Mass should be celebrated as a stational Mass in the cathedral church, or for pastoral reasons, in another church.”

Earlier in the Ceremonial of Bishop it has:
“119. … Hence, as many of the faithful as possible should come together for a stational Mass, priests should concelebrate with the bishop, deacons should assist in the celebration, and acolytes and readers should carry out their ministries.”

So people are encouraged to attend.
 
Are you sure he didn’t say penance service?

Sure, “chrism” sounds more like “prison,” but it’s a Chrism Mass, not a Chrism Service, and the Chrism Mass is on Holy Thursday. So, considering those two factors, I bet he actually said “penance” service.
 
Chrism mass would traditionally be on Holy Thursday, but in cases where this is not practical it would be held earlier in Holy week, or even the week before.

Case in point - my diocese covers about 6 counties, with a geographical area of probably 50,000 square miles. It would not be practical for priests to go to Chrism mass on Holy Thursday, and make it back to their parishes by evening for the beginning of the Triduum liturgies.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top