Holy Week begins with what I call the Day of Irony. The first part of the Mass includes the Procession with palms, recalling Christ’s entry into Jerusalem before his Passion and Death. The texts of the Traditional Roman Rite, which we use at St Mary’s all through Holy Week, preserve this irony: the One entering to shouts of Hosanna is seated on a beast of burden, and those who shout hosanna are among those who will jeer at him from below the Cross. The triumph of God must needs be ironical in a fallen world. And yet the Faith shines through, especially in the processional hymn Gloria, Laus, Honor (All Glory, Laud and Honor).
What is more beautiful and moving than the services of the Triduum? I cannot think of anything. We must all take advantage of the richness of these services offered at St. Mary’s. When people say: Can you explain exactly what goes on at the Mass on Holy Thursday, and at the Solemn Liturgy and Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday, at the Procession with the Dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows on the evening of Good Friday, and at the Great Easter Vigil? —I can only answer: Come and see. It does no good to list what happens, give details of the music, talk about themes, etc. For the Liturgy is meant to be experienced and not to be talked about as if this were a performance or concert. Nor is it meant to be dissected as if it were merely a text.
People ask me why Holy Thursday and Good Friday are not Holy Days of Obligation, since they are so important. My answer is this: it is inconceivable that a Catholic not participates in these services that commemorate those events by which we are saved. We know that there are people who have to work at the times of those services. But most are indeed free to come to these services and have an obligation to do as believing Catholics. And it is an obligation of love to bring someone to these services that has never experienced such depth of meaning and beauty. The common complaint is: these services are so long! Of course. But not as long as the three hours of eternity that Christ spent in agony on the Cross for you and me.
We must walk together in the steps of our Lord Jesus Christ during this Week. This is when our goal of ONE PARISH, UNA PARROQUIA, must be a reality. And the basis of this reality is that we are all bound by ONE FAITH.
Fr. Richard G. Cipolla
Pastor
