The sun was shining today after weeks of bleak, cold, rain and a snowfall last week. It is Easter! Christ has risen, allelujah! Warmth and light has come.
Easter, like Christmas, fills the Church to the brim with parishioners celebrating Christ's rising from the dead. Everyone in their Sunday best, the little girls in pretty spring dresses, little boys in suits and shirts, celebrating this most auspicious day, second only to Christmas. The Altar was adorned with pink and purple hydrangea and white tulle, ethereal by itself, was draped by the altar.
The Service of Light, Baptism and Confirmation of new adult members were held at the Easter vigil. Our friend Felipe was instrumental in preparing the candidates, inactive Catholics or non baptized candidates, through the process of Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
The Paschal candle was blessed and lit at this Easter vigil, from which all of our candles were lit. This is the candle that will be used for all services, baptisms, funerals to remind us that "Christ is light and life."
We renewed our Baptismal vows and were sprinkled with the Holy Water. The fonts are now filled with holy water.
The Gloria in Excelsis Deo was sung for the first time since before Lent except on Holy Thursday, and the church bells rang.
I remember being part of little angels growing up in Tuguegarao, as organized by Sr. Felici du Rosaire of St. Paul College, with the choice angel taking the veil off Mother Mary. We celebrated this at midnight and being about 7 years old, you can see that the excitement and anticipation of being raised up to lift Mary's veil or simply being part of this angelic group, would keep all of us awake.
Where there was silence during Lent, now there is music and gladness.
Happy Easter - peace, joy, light and graces to you all.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Holy Thursday 2011
Today at sunset of Holy Thursday, Lent ended and the Triduum began, the three days of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday that commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Tonight's Holy Thursday Mass, a celebration of the Lord's Last Supper with His apostles, was beautiful, solemn and touching; a feeling I've always felt each time at this service. The beautiful songs sang by our Celebration Singers enhanced the solemnity of the service. The Mass is rich in symbolism and meaning. It is held in the evening because Passover began at sundown.
The presentation of the 3 holy oils previously blessed by the Archbishop started the service: the Oil of Chrism (used in confirmation), Oil of the Sick, and Oil of Catechumen (used in baptism and ordination).
The altar servers rang the bells continuously during the Gloria, as the bells will then be silent until the Easter Vigil. There is no Mass celebrated until Easter.
The washing of feet of 12 apostles was performed after the Homily. In John 13:1-17 Jesus instructs his apostles, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." We are commanded to serve others humbly according to His example.
Father Kopacek, with his beautiful voice, sang the Consecration, where our Lord Jesus at the Last Supper, changed bread and wine into His most holy Body and Blood, and offered them in sacrifice to all. This is the essence. The Last Supper was also when Jesus instituted Priesthood.
The service concluded with a procession around our church, with the Blessed Sacrament brought to the altar of Repose (where the consecrated hosts are kept for Good Friday since Mass is not celebrated that day). A light shone from above, illuminating the Blessed Sacrament at the altar of Repose. The church's altar was later stripped bare. The holy water fonts were empty.
The Church was open till late for Adoration. By staying in prayer with the Lord, we joined others and the disciples who tried, but were unable to stay awake in Jesus’ hour of need. In the Philippines, the Visita Iglesia (Church visits) is practiced, where seven churches are visited It is said that this practice probably originated in Rome where seven pilgrim churches are visited for penance.
We all left in silence, contemplative.
Tonight's Holy Thursday Mass, a celebration of the Lord's Last Supper with His apostles, was beautiful, solemn and touching; a feeling I've always felt each time at this service. The beautiful songs sang by our Celebration Singers enhanced the solemnity of the service. The Mass is rich in symbolism and meaning. It is held in the evening because Passover began at sundown.
The presentation of the 3 holy oils previously blessed by the Archbishop started the service: the Oil of Chrism (used in confirmation), Oil of the Sick, and Oil of Catechumen (used in baptism and ordination).
The altar servers rang the bells continuously during the Gloria, as the bells will then be silent until the Easter Vigil. There is no Mass celebrated until Easter.
The washing of feet of 12 apostles was performed after the Homily. In John 13:1-17 Jesus instructs his apostles, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." We are commanded to serve others humbly according to His example.
Father Kopacek, with his beautiful voice, sang the Consecration, where our Lord Jesus at the Last Supper, changed bread and wine into His most holy Body and Blood, and offered them in sacrifice to all. This is the essence. The Last Supper was also when Jesus instituted Priesthood.
The service concluded with a procession around our church, with the Blessed Sacrament brought to the altar of Repose (where the consecrated hosts are kept for Good Friday since Mass is not celebrated that day). A light shone from above, illuminating the Blessed Sacrament at the altar of Repose. The church's altar was later stripped bare. The holy water fonts were empty.
The Church was open till late for Adoration. By staying in prayer with the Lord, we joined others and the disciples who tried, but were unable to stay awake in Jesus’ hour of need. In the Philippines, the Visita Iglesia (Church visits) is practiced, where seven churches are visited It is said that this practice probably originated in Rome where seven pilgrim churches are visited for penance.
We all left in silence, contemplative.
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