Were there any really GOOD points you heard in sermon for Holy Thursday, at either the Chrism Mass (whenever it was) or the Mass of the Last Supper?? Please share them with us. Sometimes there are real gems and people don’t always have strong preaching when they are.
Meanwhile, a poll about NOVUS ORDO Holy Thursday and foot washing. (I can be done in the Vetus Ordo, but it is not encouraged. It is best done apart from Mass, as we shall here in Rome.)
You have to be registered and approved to comment, and I hope you will, but ANYONE can vote in the poll.
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Father spoke about how Our Lady provided daily bread for the Bread of Life for most of His earthly life.
Abp. celebrated and preached. this may be his last triduum in that office as he turns 75 in September. due to recent surgery, he delegated the footwashing to the Cathedral rector: 2 priests, 1 deacon, 1 seminarian, and 8 other laymen, most of whom are young and one of whom is developmentally disabled.
as is his custom, Abp. gave excurses on the readings. he noted that St. Paul’s account of the institution of the Eucharist predates the composition of the Gospels. in the Eucharist, we don’t receive an “it”, we receive a “who”. When we receive that “who”, we should be transformed and act as Christ to those in our lives.
Abp. mainly focused on the Gospel reading. he noted that only slaves had the degrading duty of washing the feet of others in those days. he expounded on “Do you realize what I have done for you?” Of course there are the obvious things, but there are little things that could easily be overlooked. Each of us are called to be saints. if a voice says “that’s impossible”, that voice is from the evil one. he tied the washing of feet to the sacrament of confession, noted that there are many opportunities for confession in the next two days, and exhorted us to avail ourselves.
the Cathedral is attracting more young families which gladdens the heart. the choir sang the magnificent Durufle setting of Ubi Caritas. during the procession, the first four verses of Pange Lingua were sung through three times leading up to Tantum Ergo.
Our pastor washes the feet of the 12 most senior/accomplished altar servers each year. The chance to be chosen leads to a little gentle competition to sign up for extra non-precept masses and duties to improve your odds, though age is most determinative. The concept is that they have served him (when acting in the person of Christ) all year; now he serves them. The catechesis of Triduum rubrics, practices and traditions around the world is an impressive tour de force for vocational discernment. It actually starts at Candlemas, with a nod to the visitation of Jerusalem in Holy Week and liturgical parallels in processions in our space. I am retired now, but I used to love to listen from the wings (AKA the kitchen where I made their meals) as he did that male thing that well formed priests do so well with young men. Expectations, competition, praise in public, correction and encouragement almost always in private (I have gotten the skank eye to exit the kitchen briefly a few times, LOL).
…BTW, they will also do the Vigil readings, with most senior getting first selection from the choices. The “extras’ after we run out of readings get special tasks, of course.
… in a clear sign that the liturgy of the triduum has started I am rambling on about the wonder and joy of it all … sorry/not sorry…
At our Vetus Ordo Mass (pre 1955) Father asked us to meditate on the Gospel of John chapters 12 through 17.
There was a mandatum scheduled for earlier in the day, I did not go to it so I don’t know how it was done.
Our 70 year old auxiliary Bishop did the foot washing and ripped through them all in 5 minutes. That’s how much energy he has. I am somewhat amazed that 23% of respondents so far say there was no feet washing ritual at their parish. I thought it was universal.
I noted our traditional leaning pastor delegated that part of the Mass to the priest who was concelebrating.