The Sacred Triduum, 2009. Pope Benedict XVI has called the Sacred Triduum of the Lord - the three days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter - the fulcrum of the entire Church year. On Wednesday, April 8, we prepare to enter the Three Days with the ancient service of psalms, prayers, and readings called Tenebrae (Latin for shadows or darkness). During the service, the candles on the Tenebrae candelabra are extinguished one by one, a reminder of how the powers of darkness gathered around Jesus on the last days of his life. At the end of the service, just one candle remains burning, a sign of the living presence of Christ.
The sacristy on Holy Thursday, with vestments prepared for Archbishop Brunett and the concelebrating priests. On Holy Thursday, we recall the institution of the Eucharist. The Church has also traditionally looked to Holy Thursday as the day on which Jesus established the priesthood.
The Masters of Ceremonies prepare for the Holy Thursday liturgy.
Following communion, the Blessed Sacrament remains on the altar.
The Archbishop carries the Blessed Sacrament in procession through the Cathedral. "Faith alone may safely guide us, where the senses cannot lead."
As the Blessed Sacrament is carried to the Altar of Repose in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the faithful kneel in adoration. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continues until midnight, not only in the Cathedral but in countless churches throughout the world this night.
At 9:45pm, the Women of St. James Schola lead the assembly in Compline, the Night Prayer of the Church. The service begins with the singing of Tartini's Stabat Mater.
Good Friday, 2009. This year, our guest homilist for the traditional Tre Ore service is Father Robert Barron, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and professor at Mundelein Seminary.
This year the Tre Ore service featured a new commission, Northwest composer Patrick Stoyanovich's Seven Last Words. Jubilate! Young Women's Ensemble with Cathedral Soloists and the women of the Cathedral choirs are joined by the Cathedral Chamber Orchestra. Elizabeth Stoyanovich is the guest conductor.
Patrick Stoyanovich, composer
Father Barron opens up the riches of the "Seven Last Words" - the last words of Jesus from the cross. Listen and watch this gifted preacher at his website, www.wordonfire.org.
After the Tre Ore service, preparations begin for the principal liturgy of Good Friday: Good Friday of the Lord's Passion. Here, reader Ed DeAlbuquerque prepares to read the song of the suffering Servant from Isaiah, the first reading tonight.
On Good Friday, Mass is not celebrated. The liturgy begins starkly, as the Archbishop and the priests prostrate themselves before the altar.
Father Ryan, with cantors Dan Jinguji and Stacey Sunde, chant the Passion according to John.
Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo preached the homily on this Good Friday.
The Good Friday intercessions are unlike those of any other day. On this day, the Church prays for the whole world, for believers and non-believers alike. We pray for our leaders, for the Elect preparing for baptism, for the Jewish people, for the sick, the dying, and the imprisoned.
The Veneration of the Cross begins with the showing of the cross to the assembly. Three times the cross is raised high, and the deacon chants, "This is the wood of the cross, on which hung the Savior of the world." The entire assembly sings the response, "Come, let us worship."
After the corporate veneration of the cross, everyone has an opportunity to come forward individually and touch the cross to be reminded of the mystery of Jesus' sacrifice on this day.
HOLY SATURDAY. Click here to view the album of preparations for Easter. Click here for the complete Easter Vigil album with fabulous pictures by Mike Penney.
At the beginning of the great Easter Vigil, light is spread from the Paschal candle to the entire Cathedral. As Father Ryan sings in the Exsultet: "Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead! Of this night, Scripture says: The night will be clear as day." Click here to download an .mp3 file of the Exsultet.
Our Elect who will be baptized during the Vigil, listen to the Easter proclamation.
The Liturgy of the Word takes us from the creation account in the Book of Genesis to God's promise of a new creation in the prophet Ezekiel.
At the Gloria, the Cathedral is illuminated and the candles are lit from the new fire.
After the homily, the Elect are called forward. The Archbishop blesses the font, then turns towards them. They profess their faith in Christ and are led one by one to the font. More pictures of the Easter Vigil are coming soon!!
Congratulations to our fifteen neophytes!
Sadie is excited about her dad's baptism!
