28 February 2024
Lent is keeping us active at the church. In addition to our regular round of worship for Ash Wednesday, weekdays, Sundays, and Lenten Fridays, we had two funerals last week. We have also been revising the worship leaflets for the remainder of Lent and for Holy Week, and currently, only the Easter Day liturgies are rough drafts. Meanwhile, there have been multiple revisions of the acolyte and servers rota for March. The scheduling of liturgical volunteers for Holy Week is always monumental, with some days requiring over ten roles.
Holy Week is the Week of Weeks, and Holy Week is the climax of the Christian year. The full worship schedule is posted on the parish website. It is important that each of us commit to this yearly gift of worship. I know it is tough for those with family and work commitments, but it is also true that Holy Week happens only once a year. As we must discipline ourselves to attend worship every Sunday and every feast day, we must do the same for Holy Week. It is central to being a disciple of Jesus.
Last year’s observance of Holy Week at St. Mark’s was exceptional, and I believe this year will be rewarding too. The choir, acolytes, and worship guilds have been fine-tuning their devotion all year long. Palm Sunday begins with the Liturgy of the Palms featuring popular hymns, before we settle into the drama of the Passion. On Maundy Thursday we have the Pedilavium, the Watch at the Altar of Repose, and the Stripping of the Altar. On Good Friday we hear the Passion of St. John chanted by the choir, before venerating the cross. The Easter Vigil is always a highlight due to the New Fire, the dramatic readings from the Bible, and the first Solemn Mass of Easter. This year’s Easter Vigil includes the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and the party afterwards is not to be missed.
In addition to all of these liturgical riches, we have some new offerings this year. On both Palm Sunday and Easter Day, in addition to the 11:00 am Solemn Mass, Lauds will be chanted at 10:00 am, and Vespers and Benediction will be celebrated at 4:00 pm. Last year we were not able to offer these Sunday Offices during Holy Week.
The three Tenebraes of the Triduum will return this year, but with slight variation. The Tenebraes are simply Matins and Lauds of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. At some point in Christian history, these offices began to be prayed on the night prior. The name “Tenebrae” implies shadows. These offices are known for their extinguishing of candles until a single candle remains, signifying the Light of Christ triumphing over darkness and death. The congregation will chant the Wednesday and Thursday evening Tenebraes. On the Eve of Holy Saturday, also the evening of Good Friday, the final Tenebrae will feature a schola of the choir. This liturgy is especially helpful for those who must work on Good Friday. It is also wonderful to have a true Holy Saturday liturgy that is not about Good Friday or Easter Eve.
It is important to clarify that the Tenebraes sit in second place next to the major liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Eve. If you must choose, choose the major liturgies first for your worship, and compliment such worship with the Tenebraes. It is also important to note that the Easter Vigil is more important than Easter Day. If you must choose one Easter service, choose the Easter Vigil.
Unlike previous Holy Weeks, this year St. Mark’s will offer a Low Mass on Easter Day at 8:00 am. This will be a traditional, quiet, reserved, missal low mass with no homily. For those who desire an early morning Easter communion without liturgical frills, this service might be for you.
Finally, as we move toward the Triduum, the 12:00 noon masses of Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, and Holy Wednesday, will have some chanting. We will also hear the Passions from the Synoptic Gospels read each day after these masses. On Holy Monday we are invited to hear Saint Matthew’s Passion, on Holy Tuesday we are invited to hear Saints Mark’s Passion, and on Holy Wednesday we are invited to hear Saint Luke’s Passion. These masses will last a little under one hour. In addition to a priest hearing confessions on Good Friday after the Solemn Liturgy, confessions may be heard after these three masses too.
If you can swing it, my advice is to treat Holy Week as a spiritual exercise or retreat. Plan your Week of Weeks now, so that you may participate in as much as you are able. Plan ahead, or put other things aside, for worship during this critically important time. So many Christians are bystanders during Holy Week. Be different, and allow yourself to be placed within the central drama of our faith. Make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and worship Christ on the cross and at the empty tomb.
Blessings,
Father Paul Lillie +
