The Pope’s schedule: Feb-April

CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE: FEBRUARY-APRIL

VATICAN CITY, 9 FEB 2008 (VIS) – Below is the calendar of liturgical celebrations due to be presided over by the Holy Father between the months of February and April.

FEBRUARY

– Sunday 24. Third Sunday of Lent. Pastoral visit to the Roman parish of Santa Maria Liberatrice a Monte Testaccio. At 9 a.m., celebration of the Eucharist.

MARCH

– Saturday 1. At 11 a.m. in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, consistory for certain causes of canonisation.

 – Sunday 9. Fifth Sunday of Lent. Pastoral visit to the International Youth Centre and the church of San Lorenzo in Piscibus. At 10 a.m., celebration of the Eucharist.

– Thursday 13. At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, penitential celebration with young people from the diocese of Rome.

– Sunday 16. Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord. At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, blessing of palms, procession and Mass.

– Thursday 20. Holy Thursday. In the Vatican Basilica at 9.30 a.m., Chrism Mass. In the Basilica of St. John Lateran at 5.30 p.m., the beginning of the Easter Triduum with the Mass of the Last Supper.

– Friday 21. Good Friday. In the Vatican Basilica at 5 p.m., celebration of the Lord’s Passion. Way of the Cross at the Colosseum at 9.15 p.m.

– Saturday 22. Holy Saturday. Easter vigil at 9 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica.

– Sunday 23. Easter Sunday. Mass in St. Peter’s Square at 10.30 a.m. At midday, from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

APRIL

 – Wednesday 2. In St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m., Mass for Pope John Paul II.

 – Tuesday 15 to Monday 21. Apostolic trip to the U.S.A.

 – Sunday 27. At 9 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, priestly ordination of deacons from the diocese of Rome.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
This entry was posted in SESSIUNCULA. Bookmark the permalink.

7 Comments

  1. ArlingtonDio says:

    The Vatican publishes the Holy Father’s public schedule? Wow. For the most part, in the Arlington Diocese we get our bishop’s public schedule the week AFTER it occurs.

    Maybe it has something to do with security or people who annoy and follow him around from place to place, but I find it odd. And kind of sad.

  2. Garrett says:

    “Celebration of the Eucharist?” How about Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?

  3. Tim Ferguson says:

    The use of one perfectly good term does not negate the applicability of another perfectly good term. Were I to call the sky “blue” that would not mean that it would not also be “cerulean.”

  4. Garrett says:

    It’s not the term itself that I find problematic. On the contrary, it is entirely acceptable. It’s the liturgical shenanigans that so often accompany “celebrations of the Eucharist” which are problematic. By and large, whenever you hear of “the Sacrifice of the Mass,” you can bet the liturgy will be at least decent, as a general rule.

  5. Prof. Basto says:

    Unfortunately, Masses at the Square are back.

    Since the succession of the Marinis took place, no such Masses were held. I was hoping to see all Masses in St. Peter’s celebrated INSIDE the Basilica from now on, including those of Holy Week, as well as the Requiem of the late Pope.

    Btw, the late Pope used to celebrate Mass for the repose of his two immediate predecessors indoors.

    Sad to see that under Marini II the “break with tradition” started by Paul VI with those Masses in the Square is not being reversed.

    It will be interesting to see the altar arrangement that Mons. Marini will prepare for those oudoors Masses, including the position of the Holy Father’s throne, the presence of a dias, the question of candles in the oudoor altar, crucifix, etc.

    A church is always a better place to celebrate Mass, and people outside can always watch via the big screens, and perhaps even receive Communion, since the only reason they are not inside is the size of the congregation, of which they are also a part.

    Finally, I believe many like me are still longing for the day when the TLM will enter that schedule.

  6. Tim Ferguson says:

    Garrett, I think it’s a safe bet that if Pope Benedict is celebrating the Eucharist, offering the Holy Sacrifice, saying/reading/singing Mass, doing liturgy, confecting the Sacrament, presiding at liturgy, exercisising a presbyteral role – the liturgy will be at least decent, as a general rule.

    Complaining about the terminology the Vatican choses – especially when, as you yourself say “it is entirely acceptable” bespeaks an overly critical spirit that, all too often has cast a negative light on those of traditional leanings. If it’s “entirely acceptable” then why even comment on it?

  7. Gustavo Ráez-Patiño says:

    Prof. Basto,

    As early as last year’s November, Marini II was planning liturgical ceremonies at St. Peter’s Square: both the Consistory and the Mass of the Rings were supposed to take place there. Only the rain was the reason for these ceremonies to move inside the Basilica.

    I can bet we will see the same “Benedictine” altar arrangement at the Square. Besides, a Mass at the Square makes the papal throne’s position more interesting. I am sure we will see the big Leo XIII’s throne again, with a dias (maybe a seven steps one this time) set way behind the altar, near the Basilica’s main entrance. This is definetly nicer than putting a chair in front of the altar, as it is when Mass is celebrated inside.

Comments are closed.