Chrism Mass:  This special mass takes place at the diocesan Cathedral.  It features the blessing of the Holy Oils (Oil of Catechuments, Sacred Chrism, Oil of the Sick).  The Ordinary (principal bishop) of the diocese is the main celebrant, and the priests of the diocese are concelebrants.  As part of this mass, the priests renew their promise of obedience to the bishop as head of his diocese.  Originally held on Holy Thursday morning, the Chrism Mass may now be rescheduled for a more convenient time when more of the faithful can take part.

Mass of the Lord's Supper:  The priest vests in white for this mass, which celebrates both the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the beginning of the Lord's Passion.  The Triduum begins with the intoning of the Gloria in Excelsius Deo, which includes the ringing of the church bells for the last time until the Easter Vigil.  After the homily, the priest may reenact Jesus' action of washing the feet of his apostles by washing the feet of some of the men in the parish, representing the twelve apostles.  (Many parishes will have both men and women "apostles" but this is not technically correct.)  The mass ends not with a blessing, but with a solemn procession to a place of Repository, where the Eucharist is exposed for a time after mass.  All are encouraged to spend time with the Lord in adoration, in response to Jesus' question, "Could you not stay awake with me one hour?" as he began his Agony in the Garden.  From the end of the Mass of the Last Supper until the Easter Vigil, no mass is said in any Catholic church on earth.

Service of the Lord's Passion:  A special prayer service, one of the oldest in the history of the Catholic faith, takes place traditionally at 3 p.m., although the time may be adjusted for pastoral reasons.  This service begins with the priest, vested in red, laying prostrate before the cross.  Good Friday is the only day on which we genuflect to the crucifix as the symbol of our salvation.  The Service of the Lord's Passion has three parts.

1. 
   The Service of the Word -- including the reading of the Passion of the Lord according to John.  This portion ends with the ancient prayers of petition, at which we pray for our world, our church, ourselves, the Jewish people, our separated Christian brothers and sisters, those who do not believe in God, our political leaders, the sick, the poor, and everyone else.
   
2. 
   The Service of the Cross -- Jesus crucified is slowly exposed to the congregation while the pastor sings, "This is the wood of the cross on which hung the Savior of the world" and we respond, "Come, let us worship."  Individual veneration of the cross is encouraged, by kissing the feet of Jesus or by another appropriate method.
   
3. 
   Communion Service -- The Eucharist in the form of the Precious Body of Christ, consecrated at the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, is distributed to the faithful in the usual way.

The Service of the Lord's Passion may be repeated for pastoral reasons.  Communion may also be brought to the sick at any time.  Many parishes will also schedule a Way of the Cross on Good Friday evening.

Last edited on Mon Mar 26th, 2007 12:47 am by CajunRick

Last edited on Tue Mar 27th, 2007 02:59 pm by BodRod

Don't put those kind of sites on here Rick! I took one look and gained three pounds!!!

Last edited on Thu Mar 29th, 2007 01:57 am by CajunRick