2017年圣周: 圣周四
I often wish the Seminary could hold more public Masses in the evenings, like a Saturday anticipated Mass. There's a peacefulness that seems to settle around the campus as the sun goes down that I really think could do a lot of people a world of good. It's part of why I really look forward to Holy Week here.
Holy Thursday Mass began with a solemn procession. Since Palm Sunday our processional cross and crucifix behind the altar have been shrouded in purple.
The Chrism Mass had been celebrated that moring at Xuanwumen; early in the Mass our priest received the three oils, 病人圣油 bìngrén shèng yóu (The Oil of the Sick), 侯洗圣油 hóuxǐshèng yóu (The Oil of Catechumens), and 圣化圣油 shèng huà shèng yóu (The Holy Chrism).
After the homily, our priest removed his outer vestments, and stooped to wash the feet of twelve ment of our parish. During that, our choir sang this hymn, as they often do. It is a recitation of 1 Corinthians 13, the part about "love is patient, love is kind."
Then as the Mass drew to a close, like everywhere else in the Catholic world, we processed out of the church, following the Holy Eucharist. This hymn they sing during the procession every year. It's one of those songs to which everyone knows the words, so I have not found it in my hymnal. But, yes, we somehow always manage to end up at the back of everything.
We lingered long enough to move up briefly. I didn't want to stay too long. That peacefulness that I associate with the Seminary grounds is partly rooted in it being someplace people live. They would keep watch the rest of the night while we could not.
Holy Thursday Mass began with a solemn procession. Since Palm Sunday our processional cross and crucifix behind the altar have been shrouded in purple.
The Chrism Mass had been celebrated that moring at Xuanwumen; early in the Mass our priest received the three oils, 病人圣油 bìngrén shèng yóu (The Oil of the Sick), 侯洗圣油 hóuxǐshèng yóu (The Oil of Catechumens), and 圣化圣油 shèng huà shèng yóu (The Holy Chrism).
After the homily, our priest removed his outer vestments, and stooped to wash the feet of twelve ment of our parish. During that, our choir sang this hymn, as they often do. It is a recitation of 1 Corinthians 13, the part about "love is patient, love is kind."
Then as the Mass drew to a close, like everywhere else in the Catholic world, we processed out of the church, following the Holy Eucharist. This hymn they sing during the procession every year. It's one of those songs to which everyone knows the words, so I have not found it in my hymnal. But, yes, we somehow always manage to end up at the back of everything.
We lingered long enough to move up briefly. I didn't want to stay too long. That peacefulness that I associate with the Seminary grounds is partly rooted in it being someplace people live. They would keep watch the rest of the night while we could not.
When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40-41)
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