Chrism Mass - Mass of the Last Supper at the Holy Sepulchre
The city still asleep, the sun slowly begins its ascent, but the bells ring already to warn the Christian people: the mystery of redemption begins here in Jerusalem, at the Holy Sepulchre.
It is hard not to enjoy the special atmosphere in the Basilica of the Resurrection on Holy Thursday morning.
The solemnity is certainly stated by the crowd of priests. As recalled by the Patriarch in his homily, "this is the feast of priesthood, this is your day!" The flood of priests dressed in white comes to renew his ordination promises and concelebrate Mass around the Auxiliary Bishops and the Nuncio.
Joy is also evident on the faces of the various faithful. A group of Colombian pilgrims is waiting there for the start of the celebration with some anxiety. "Do you ask if I'm happy? How could I not be?" answers the pilgrim with excitement. "This is my first Easter here!" She lets out a smile, almost surprised to be in such a special place.
The Holy Sepulchre gathers faithful from all possible horizons. The Arab parishioners would not miss Easter celebrations for anything, but also the newly arrived pilgrims from all over the world, to whom every gesture leads them to wonder.
The Mass is special: celebrated on the morning it groups at once the celebration of the Last Supper, the Chrism Mass and the procession to the repository (at the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre).
It must be admitted, this is quite moving. Being there, in the centre of Christianity, where all that is celebrated happened 2000 years ago. Patriarch and priests, faithful and curious, local or foreign, everyone accompany Christ in His mystery.
The same rites will be celebrated throughout Christendom today. But nothing will replace the spiritual and emotional density that dwells in the walls where Christians follow each other for thousands of years to relive the Passover of the Lord, and to cross with Christ from death to life.
The Franciscans receive the keys of the Holy Sepulchre
According to tradition, the key of the Holy Sepulchre was entrusted to Muslim families since the middle Ages, but they symbolically handed it over to the Franciscans. As the Custodial Vicar was absent, Father Athanasius Macora from the order of discrete seniority (Councillors) of the Holy Land present in Jerusalem, had the honour to return the key to the Holy Sepulchre. The doors of the Holy Sepulchre were already open, so that the religious could come in for the prayer before the Blessed Sacrament resting in the Tomb.
"At the Cenacle, twelve children are apostles"
It is 3 p.m., the Franciscan friars gathered at the entrance of St-Saviour monastery for a pilgrimage to the Cenacle, then to the Armenian Cathedral of St. Jacques and finally to the Syriac Church of St. Mark. The pilgrims mingled with Christian families of the old city following the beating of Kawas.
Arriving to the Cenacle, the events that took place in it are mentioned, including the washing of the feet, which will be carried out by the Custos Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The room is already full. Pilgrims, locals, and tourists see the beginning of the celebration. The children were touched by the surrounding crowd and by the attention that was granted to them. In a semicircle, they attended the celebration alongside Father Firas Hijazin, the parish priest.
The Custos washed the feet of the children in front of their moved parents. "I am Jerusalemite and this is the first time I visit the Cenacle. Can you imagine?" said the mother of Sameer, a boy among the other twelve, and "what a joy to see him at the centre of this beautiful ritual!”
"To carry out this particularly exciting ritual full of humility at the Upper Room is a fascinating experience, asserted Jabra Majlaton father of Saher also among the twelve, this act will mark the children for life." Looking at his friends with a wide smile Saher added:" When they chose me to be among the twelve I felt like one of the twelve apostles! ".
"Stay up and pray so that ye may not enter into temptation"
Silence settled in the Basilica of the Agony. The vigil of the holy hour presided over by the Holy Land Custos Pierbattista Pizzaballa, awaited the green light of the cameras that were broadcasting live the service on the site of many TV channels.
The Basilica was full of local pilgrims and faithful coming from the surrounding towns. In this silence, in front of the stone of the Agony, it was time for prayer and meditation.
"Stay up and pray so that ye may not enter into temptation" reminded Father Custos. The three key moments that took place in this same place were mentioned: the prediction of Peter's denial of Christ and the escape of the Disciples, the Agony of Christ in the Garden, and finally His arrest.
Youth and adults, standing or sitting on the floor prayed together. "What a time of intense prayer and joy of being in this basilica" says Zina sister. The evening comes to an end; the faithful left the basilica to initiate a torchlight procession to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu across the Kidron Valley.
From the forecourt the even more numerous pilgrims on the outside illuminated the streets with candles and torches. Some were beginning to sing. "We are from Ramallah! Exclaimed Mira and Aline, we came last year and will be back next year. This vigil is the evidence of an intense communion. What can be more beautiful than this? Be there with your joy next year, by all means!"
The city still asleep, the sun slowly begins its ascent, but the bells ring already to warn the Christian people: the mystery of redemption begins here in Jerusalem, at the Holy Sepulchre.
It is hard not to enjoy the special atmosphere in the Basilica of the Resurrection on Holy Thursday morning.
The solemnity is certainly stated by the crowd of priests. As recalled by the Patriarch in his homily, "this is the feast of priesthood, this is your day!" The flood of priests dressed in white comes to renew his ordination promises and concelebrate Mass around the Auxiliary Bishops and the Nuncio.
Joy is also evident on the faces of the various faithful. A group of Colombian pilgrims is waiting there for the start of the celebration with some anxiety. "Do you ask if I'm happy? How could I not be?" answers the pilgrim with excitement. "This is my first Easter here!" She lets out a smile, almost surprised to be in such a special place.
The Holy Sepulchre gathers faithful from all possible horizons. The Arab parishioners would not miss Easter celebrations for anything, but also the newly arrived pilgrims from all over the world, to whom every gesture leads them to wonder.
The Mass is special: celebrated on the morning it groups at once the celebration of the Last Supper, the Chrism Mass and the procession to the repository (at the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre).
It must be admitted, this is quite moving. Being there, in the centre of Christianity, where all that is celebrated happened 2000 years ago. Patriarch and priests, faithful and curious, local or foreign, everyone accompany Christ in His mystery.
The same rites will be celebrated throughout Christendom today. But nothing will replace the spiritual and emotional density that dwells in the walls where Christians follow each other for thousands of years to relive the Passover of the Lord, and to cross with Christ from death to life.
The Franciscans receive the keys of the Holy Sepulchre
According to tradition, the key of the Holy Sepulchre was entrusted to Muslim families since the middle Ages, but they symbolically handed it over to the Franciscans. As the Custodial Vicar was absent, Father Athanasius Macora from the order of discrete seniority (Councillors) of the Holy Land present in Jerusalem, had the honour to return the key to the Holy Sepulchre. The doors of the Holy Sepulchre were already open, so that the religious could come in for the prayer before the Blessed Sacrament resting in the Tomb.
"At the Cenacle, twelve children are apostles"
It is 3 p.m., the Franciscan friars gathered at the entrance of St-Saviour monastery for a pilgrimage to the Cenacle, then to the Armenian Cathedral of St. Jacques and finally to the Syriac Church of St. Mark. The pilgrims mingled with Christian families of the old city following the beating of Kawas.
Arriving to the Cenacle, the events that took place in it are mentioned, including the washing of the feet, which will be carried out by the Custos Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The room is already full. Pilgrims, locals, and tourists see the beginning of the celebration. The children were touched by the surrounding crowd and by the attention that was granted to them. In a semicircle, they attended the celebration alongside Father Firas Hijazin, the parish priest.
The Custos washed the feet of the children in front of their moved parents. "I am Jerusalemite and this is the first time I visit the Cenacle. Can you imagine?" said the mother of Sameer, a boy among the other twelve, and "what a joy to see him at the centre of this beautiful ritual!”
"To carry out this particularly exciting ritual full of humility at the Upper Room is a fascinating experience, asserted Jabra Majlaton father of Saher also among the twelve, this act will mark the children for life." Looking at his friends with a wide smile Saher added:" When they chose me to be among the twelve I felt like one of the twelve apostles! ".
"Stay up and pray so that ye may not enter into temptation"
Silence settled in the Basilica of the Agony. The vigil of the holy hour presided over by the Holy Land Custos Pierbattista Pizzaballa, awaited the green light of the cameras that were broadcasting live the service on the site of many TV channels.
The Basilica was full of local pilgrims and faithful coming from the surrounding towns. In this silence, in front of the stone of the Agony, it was time for prayer and meditation.
"Stay up and pray so that ye may not enter into temptation" reminded Father Custos. The three key moments that took place in this same place were mentioned: the prediction of Peter's denial of Christ and the escape of the Disciples, the Agony of Christ in the Garden, and finally His arrest.
Youth and adults, standing or sitting on the floor prayed together. "What a time of intense prayer and joy of being in this basilica" says Zina sister. The evening comes to an end; the faithful left the basilica to initiate a torchlight procession to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu across the Kidron Valley.
From the forecourt the even more numerous pilgrims on the outside illuminated the streets with candles and torches. Some were beginning to sing. "We are from Ramallah! Exclaimed Mira and Aline, we came last year and will be back next year. This vigil is the evidence of an intense communion. What can be more beautiful than this? Be there with your joy next year, by all means!"