Maundy Thursday

Thursday 1 April 2010

FERIA QUINTA IN CENA DOMINI
Holy Thursday
1st Class, White and Violet

Réspice, quæsumus, Dómine, super hanc famíliam tuam, pro qua Dóminus noster Jesus Christus non dubitávit mánibus tradi nocéntium, et crucis subíre torméntum : sed dicitur sub silentio : Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum : Amen.

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the Cross. Here is added silently : Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end : Amen.

~~*~~

The Mass of Holy Thursday is celebrated in the evening. The Mandatum may take place after the Gospel. There is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose; thereafter the Altar is stripped.

From the General Decree of November 16, 1955 restoring the Liturgy of Holy Week (Maxima Redemptionis):

'Let the faithful be taught about the love with which Christ our Lord 'on the day before He suffered' instituted the sacred and holy Eucharist, sacrifice and Sacrament, the perpetual memorial of His Passion, to be offered day by day through the ministry of His priests. Let the faithful be invited to render due adoration after the end of the Mass to the most holy Sacrament. Finally, wherever to illustrate the Lord's commandment of brotherly love the Washing of the Feet is carried out according to the restored rubrics, let the faithful be taught the deep significance of this holy rite, and let them spend this day in works of Christian charity.'

The Mass today, which by order of Ven. Pope Pius XII should not begin before 5 p.m. or after 8 p.m., specially commemorates the Institution of the Blessed Eucharist at the Last Supper, and the Ordination of the Apostles, and is, therefore, a Mass of joy and thanksgiving. Hence the Church lays aside for the moment the penitential purple, and assumes festive white vestments; the Altar is decorated; the Gloria is said. During the Gloria the bells are rung, and from that time until the Easter Vigil they remain silent.

At pontifical Mass the oils are blessed for Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Extreme Unction and the consecration of altars and churches.

On this day an extra Ciborium is consecrated for the 'Mass' of the Presanctified (hence the name) on Good Friday. After the Mass this Ciborium is borne in solemn Procession, during which the Pange Lingua is sung, to the Altar of Repose.

The derivation of the word Maundy reminds us of the ceremony of washing the feet, called Mandatum, from the first words of the Antiphon: Mandatum novum do vobis (John 13:34). The Mandatum takes place on this day because our Lord washed the feet of His Apostles before the Institution of the Holy Eucharist from which this feast (in Latin Feria Quinta in Coena Domini) derives its most characteristic features. The Epistle, Gospel, Secret, Communicantes (special form), the Postcommunion, the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass, and the placing of the Ciborum of Hosts consecrated during the Mass in a tabernacle at the 'Altar of Repose' where It is to remain until the following day, are all intended to commemorate the institution of this Divine Sacrament. This day was the only Feast of the Blessed Sacrament up to the time when a special and very solemn Feast was instituted on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Private Masses are forbidden on this day. There is a general Communion at the Solemn Mass in which the priest takes part, to commemorate the custom of ancient times, when in cathedral churches the holy Sacrifice was offered by the Bishop, surrounded by his priests. Another ancient rite of this day is the Blessing of the Holy Oils and the reconciliation of public penitents. The only trace of the reconciliation of the penitents in our present Roman Missal is the Collect of the Mass 'Deus a quo' which is very ancient. In the early Middle Ages, when these ceremonies were observed, three Masses were celebrated on this day: (1) in memory of the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, (2) for the Blessing of the Holy Oils, and (3) for the reconciliation of public penitents. The second of these Masses is celebrated by the Bishop before noon in his Cathedral Church surrounded by his clergy.

After the evening Mass the Altar is stripped in order to show that the holy Sacrifice is interrupted and will not be offered again until Holy Saturday is ending.

Note: On Thursday and Friday Vespers are omitted, since the liturgical functions of the two days replace them, Compline is chanted in choir after the function.

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Holy Thursday in Rome (Santissima Trinità dei Pelegrini):-

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Please note: during the three days of the Triduum, the St Margaret Schola will sing Tenebrae (chanted Solemn Matins and Lauds) form 10.00am, in St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinburgh (Scotland). The Schola was founded in 2009 to promote Gregorian Chant within the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, and sings monthly Vespers in the Cathedral.

All are welcome to join the Schola for this opportunity to pray with the ancient music of the Church, particularly at this most sacred of times. Please see edinburghschola.blogspot.com for updates and further information.

~~*~~

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• The Guéranger Blog: Reconstructing the Last Supper
• Gregorian Chant propers
  
• Gregorian Chants for the Vesperal Mass (Schola of the Seminary of Our Lady of Guadalupe, FSSP)
• chantblog: Sing my tongue
  
• NLM: Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions (Part 3)
• Vultus Christi: The Hour of the Priest
• Maundy Thursday in Reading (FSSP)
• NLM: Chrism Mass of Pope Benedict XVI (new!)
• NLM: The Papal Mass of Maundy Thursday (new!)
• Oxford Events: Maundy Thursday with the FSSP in Reading(new!)
  

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Please note: on Thursday 1st, Friday 2nd, and Saturday 3rd the St Margaret Schola will sing the Office of Tenebrae (Solemn Morning Prayer) within St Mary's RC Cathedral at 10.00am each day. All are welcome to join the Schola - now in its second year - for this opportunity to pray with the ancient music of the Church.

Please see edinburghschola.blogspot.com for updates and further information.

(image: Holy Thursday at the FSSP's Wigratzbad Seminary)

Wednesday in Holy Week

Wednesday 31 March 2010

FERIA IV HEBDOMADAE SANCTAE
Spy Wednesday
1st Class, Violet
(Lauds II)

Oremus.

Præsta, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut, qui nostris excéssibus incessánter afflígimur, per unigéniti Fílii tui passiónem liberémur : Qui tecum vivit et regnat.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that we, who are continually afflicted by reason of our transgressions, may be delivered by the Passion of thine only-begotten Son. Who liveth and reigneth with thee.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? : Spy Wednesday
• Psallite Sapienter: Holy Week collect
  

Tuesday in Holy Week

Tuesday 30 March 2010

FERIA III HEBDOMADAE SANCTAE
Tuesday of Holy Week
1st Class, Violet
(Lauds II)

Oremus.

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus : da nobis ita Domínicæ passiónis sacraménta perágere ; ut indulgéntiam percípere mereámur. Per eúmdem Dóminum.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God : grant that we may so celebrate the mysteries of the Passion of our Saviour ; that we may be worthy to obtain thy pardon. Through the same.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
  

(image: Church of St. Praxedes, stational church for Tuesday in Holy Week)

Monday in Holy Week

Monday 29 March 2010

FERIA II HEBDOMADAE SANCTAE
Monday of Holy Week
1st Class, Violet
(Lauds II)

Oremus.

Da, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut, qui in tot advérsis ex nostra infirmitáte defícimus ; intercedénte unigéniti Fílii tui passióne respirémus : Qui tecum vivit et regnat.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that, whereas by reason of the frailty of our nature we are oppressed by the assaults of our enemies ; the meritorious passion of thy only-begotten Son may speedily help and deliver us. Who liveth and reigneth with thee.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
  

(image: Mary, sister of Martha, anoints Christ's feet)

Palm Sunday

Sunday 28 March 2010

DOMINICA II PASSIONIS SEU IN PALMIS
Palm Sunday
1st Class, Red and Violet
(Lauds II)

Oremus.

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui humáno géneri, ad imitándum humilitátis exémplum, Salvatórem nostrum carnem súmere, et crucem subíre fecísti : concéde propítius ; ut et patiéntiæ ipsíus habére documénta, et resurrectiónis consórtia mereámur. Per eúmdem Dóminum.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the Cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility : mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection. Through the same.

~~*~~

Extract from the General Decree restoring Holy Week:

'Let the faithful be invited to take part in the Procession of the Palms in greater numbers, thus rendering Christ the King public witness of their love and gratitude.'

The Second Sunday in Passiontide would be in any case a great and holy day as it commemorates the last triumph of Our Lord Jesus Christ on earth and opens Holy Week. On this day, the Church celebrates the triumphant entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem; when the multitude, going before and following after Him, cut off the branches from the trees and strewed them in His way, shouting: 'Hosanna (glory and praise) to the Son of David. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.' It is in commemoration of this triumph that palms are blessed and borne in solemn procession.

In fact, this Palm Sunday triumph of Our Lord only led to His death. But we know that this death was not a failure. It was through His Passion and Death that he conquered the world and entered into His Kingdom. 'I, if I be lifted up ... will draw all thing to myself' (John 12:32). So the Church asks the faithful to join in the triumphal Procession today as an act of homage and gratitude to Christ our King. This triumphal beginning to Holy Week is full of meaning. Although the purple Mass vestments and the Gospel of the Passion remind us that the Cross lies ahead, we already know that this is the means of victory. So the church asks us to begin Holy Week by joyfully and publicly acknowledging Christ the King.

The principal ceremonies of the day are the Blessing of the Palms, the Procession, and the Mass with the reading of the Passion. The Blessing of the Palms used to follow a ritual similar to that of the Mass, - having an Epistle, a Gospel, a Preface, and a Sanctus. The Epistle referred to the murmuring of the Israelites in the desert, and their sighing for the flesh-pots of Egypt. The Gospel was the same as now, describing the triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The prayers which followed the Sanctus, asked God to 'bless the branches of palm ... so that whoever receives them may find protection of soul and body ... that into whatever place they shall be brought, those there may obtain His blessing; that the devout faithful may understand the mystical meaning of the ceremony, that is, that the palms represent triumph over the prince of death ... and therefore the use of them declares both the greatness of the victory and the richness of God's mercy.'

Here we clearly have the remains of the early usage of having two Masses on this day: one for the Blessing of the Palms, the other after the Procession. The prayers of the Blessing, the Antiphons sung during the Procession, and the hymn Gloria laus, make this one of the most impressive ceremonies of the liturgical year.

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Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• NLM: Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions (part 2)
• Palm Sunday in Reading, England (FSSP)
• chantblog: Hosanna Filio David (new!)
• NLM: Hosanna Filio David, Benedictus Qui Venit in Nomine Domini (new!)
• The New Theological Movement: "O Cross of Chris, our only Hope!" (new!)
  

(image: Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, Palm Sunday 2009, Maria Thann)

Annunciation of the B.V.M.

Thursday 25 March 2010

IN ANNUNTIATIONE B. MARIAE VIRG.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1st Class, White
(commem. of feria at Lauds and Vespers)

Oremus.

Deus, qui de beátæ Maríæ Vírginis útero Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiánte, carnem suscípere voluísti : præsta supplícibus tuis ; ut, qui vere eam Genitrícem Dei crédimus, ejus apud te intercessiónibus adjuvémur. Per eúmdem Dóminum.

Let us pray.

O God, who didst will that at the message of an Angel thy Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary : grant that we, thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with thee. Through the same.

Links:

• Sub Tuum: Annunciation Pregame: The Angelus
• St Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association (2009)
• St Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association (2010) (new!)
• The Anglo-Catholic: Annunciation of the B.V.M. (new!)
  
• Cardinal Newman, Apologist of Our Lady, by Fr John Hardon SJ

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Please note: on Thursday 25th there will be Solemn Latin Vespers and Benediction at 5.00pm (NOTE: change of time) in St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinburgh. All are welcome to join the Schola - now in its second year - for this opportunity to pray with the ancient music of the Church.

Please see edinburghschola.blogspot.com for updates and further information.

Passion Sunday

Sunday 21 March 2010

DOMINICA I PASSIONIS
Passion Sunday
1st Class, Violet
(Lauds II)

Oremus.

Quæsumus, omnípotens Deus, famíliam tuam propítius réspice : ut, te largiénte, regátur in córpore ; et, te servánte, custodiátur in mente. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

We beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people : that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul. Through.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
• Gregorian Chant propers
• Sub Tuum: Passion Sunday: Station at St Peter
  
• NLM: Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions (Part 1)
  

St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Friday 19 March 2010

S. IOSEPH SPONSI B.M.V. CONFESSORS
ET ECCLESIAE UNIVERSAE PATRONI
St Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M.
Patron of the Universal Church
1st Class, White
(commem. of feria at Lauds and Vespers)

Oremus.

Sanctíssimæ Genitrícis tuæ Sponsi, quæsumus, Dómine, méritis adjuvémur : ut, quod possibílitas nostra non óbtinet, ejus nobis intercessióne donétur : Qui vivis et regnas.

Let us pray.

Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we may be assisted by the merits of the spouse of thy most holy Mother : and vouchsafe to give us at his intercession ; those things which by our own power we cannot obtain. Who livest and reignest with the Father.

~~*~~

Te Joseph Celebrent, Office Hymn, for the Solemnity:

(image: St Joseph in Millegem Kerk, Ranst, Belgium)

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Sunday 14 March 2010

DOMINICA IV IN QUADRAGESIMA
Fourth Sunday of Lent
(Laetare Sunday)
1st Class, Violet or Rose
(Lauds II)

Oremus.

Concéde, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut, qui ex mérito nostræ actiónis afflígimur, tuæ grátiæ consolatióne respirémus. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.


Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved. Through.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
• NLM: Laetare Sunday
  

(image: Vultus Christi)

Third Sunday of Lent

Sunday 7 March 2010

DOMINICA III IN QUADRAGESIMA
Third Sunday of Lent
1st Class, Violet
(Lauds II)

Oremus.

Quæsumus, omnípotens Deus, vota humílium réspice : atque ad defensiónem nostram, déxteram tuæ majestátis exténde. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.


We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants : and stretch forth the right hand of thy majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies. Through.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• NLM: Introit, Third Sunday of Lent
• St Conleth's Catholic Heritage: Lent III: Ave Regina Cœlorum
• St Mary Magdalen: "And You will live long in the Land..."
• Fr Scott Bailey, CSsR: Evening Devotions
  

First Thursday of the Month: Plenary Indulgence Available

For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the opening and closing days of the Year for Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.

To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in an oratory or Church and offer prayers to "Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to his heart."

The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope.

(source: Zenit/A Catholic Life)