Holy Thursday 2012, April 5.

Reposting previous posts on Holy Thursday, with minimal changes.

Holy Thursday 2012, April 5.

Today at sunset of Holy Thursday, Lent ended and the Triduum began. The Triduum is the three days of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday that commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.

I only went to one Mass, a beautiful, solemn, touching Mass, rich in symbolism and meaning. It is held in the evening because Passover began at sundown. 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.

Tonight's Holy Thursday Mass is a celebration of the Lord's Last Supper with His apostles. The beautiful songs sang by our Celebration Singers enhanced the solemnity of the service. Kather Kopacek sang through the Consecration.

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). Father blessed the oils with incense. The burning incense is said to be purifying and sanctifying.

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.

At Consecration, where Jesus at the Last Supper, changed bread and wine into His most holy Body and Blood, and offered them in sacrifice to all. The mystery of the Eucharist, the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, is the essence of our belief. The Last Supper was also when Jesus instituted Priesthood.

The Blessed Sacrament was blessed with incense, and the service concluded with a procession around our church. The Blessed Sacrament was 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.

We all left in silence, contemplative.