27 MARCH 2024
When Holy Week arrives at the end of March, people are surprised at its arrival. This is true for non-Christians who associate Easter with April; true for nominal Christians who have not observed Lent; and even true for faithful Christians, who find they have less time to prepare.
You may not realize that our work for Holy Week is a year-long project, as is the case with many of our liturgies and feasts. When we decided to start offering the three Tenebraes, those liturgies were crafted during the summer months. Various levels of preparation begin months in advance. Music must be ordered and rehearsed, vestments must be fixed and ordered, musician and acolyte schedules arranged, scripture passages exegeted and studied, and liturgical items purchased. Special liturgies require advanced planning, and in many ways Holy Week requires the most advanced foresight.
Still, sometimes things happen that cannot be avoided. Last Saturday morning before the 12:00 noon mass, the Altar Guild faithfully dressed the High Altar with the church's passion vestments. The noon mass was celebrated, and photos were taken for our social media accounts. Quickly we began to realize that our beloved Passion set needed to be retired. It is old, stained, and worn beyond repair.
It was 3:00 pm on Saturday, two hours before the Palm Sunday Vigil Mass, and I was looking at the pictures I had taken on my phone, enjoying a short break before the rigors of Holy Week. I remembered how in the past the color for Palm Sunday was violet as the rest of Lent. Immediately I called Sandy Leialoha and asked her to meet me before the Vigil Mass, so that we could change the church back to violet. She was more than happy to help, and we made the quick change.
Some of you asked about the use of violet, having remembered past days. Thankfully, the violet set is one of our nicest vestment sets, and we note that the Prayer Book does not actually stipulate liturgical colors. Conversations have already begun about the need for a new passion vestment set for the church. If we are to have a new set for next year, work must begin shortly after Holy Week. Intentional liturgy requires advanced planning.
As we embark on the Triduum, the great Three Days of our faith, I must thank in advance so many of you for your dedicated work behind the scenes. This week is a labor of love, and it is a privilege to be with so many of you each day of this week. The church is buzzing with activity, which is wonderful to behold. Let me share a few final notes concerning the remaining days of Holy Week.
Please note the opportunity to pray before the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday after the mass, and please join us for the Easter Vigil reception on Saturday night. We will celebrate an adult baptism at the Easter Vigil this year, so it will be especially joyful.
As the liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Eve are one liturgy, spread over three days, the sermon for the Triduum will be preached at the Maundy Thursday mass. An Easter sermon will be preached at the Solemn Mass of Easter Day. Saint John Chrysostom will be our preacher at the Easter Vigil.
Holy Week will finish with Vespers and Benediction on Easter Day at 4:00 pm. During Benediction we have the privilege of hearing the Emmaus story from Saint Luke's Gospel - a story that always brings clarity to our Holy Week experience. Mark your calendars for the Rector's Study on April 7, when we shall reflect upon our time together this Holy Week.
I wish you and your loved ones a Holy Week rich in meaning and faith.
Father Paul Lillie +
