Melbourne Parish Weekly Bulletin - Easter Week

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Explanations of some ceremonies of Holy Week

Tenebrae: We give this name to the Matins and Lauds of the Sacred Triduum (the three Sacred days, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday).  In fact it is the name of a part of the Matins, consisting of psalms and lessons.  Most days of the year have one Tenebra, but feast days have three.  The Tenebrae of the Sacred Triduum are now said in the morning, as there is no Mass at that time normally. The practise of Tuesday evening is for all interested in coming to Tenebrae, to learn the parts sung by all.

Altar of repose: The altar of repose is away from the main altar.  We use it to honour the Blessed Sacrament on Maundy Thursday, as we need to strip the main altar to symbolize the Passion of Our Lord and the flight of the disciples. Until midnight, we do a genuflexion with both knees when passing in front of the altar of the repose, but on Good Friday we only do the usual genuflexion with one knee.

Complines: the last of the hours of the Breviary, it is the official night prayer of the Church. On Thursday and Friday this week, it is simply recited after the ceremonies as the Mass on Thursday and the Liturgical Function on Friday takes place of the Vespers.

Liturgical function of Good Friday: There is no Mass on Good Friday, but a ceremony to commemorate the Passion of Our Lord and to receive Communion.  It is a liturgical function, hence the name.  It is divided in four parts: Readings (with the Passion), Solemn prayers for the Church and mankind, the adoration of the Cross and the Communion.  For the three hours fast before Communion on that day, we need to fast from around 1:15 pm.

Paschal Vigil: There is no Mass also for Holy Saturday. In the evening we have a vigil, that is prayers during the night, to commemorate the Resurrection of Our Lord and its symbols and figures, some of which are the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and baptism. We start with the blessing of the new fire, the blessing of the paschal candle, symbol of the risen Christ, the proclamation of the Resurrection by the singing of the Exultet, the blessing of the baptismal water and baptisms if there is any adult or infant who can be baptised then, and we conclude by the Mass, starting usually around midnight.  However it is not a midnight Mass like at Christmas, but a part of the Paschal Vigil. If for some good reason someone starts the Vigil early, the Mass may start and finish before midnight, but then it does not count as a Sunday Mass!