With the Chrism Mass and in Coena Domini – combined in a single celebration - at the Holy Sepulchre, the Easter Triduum opened in Jerusalem.
The celebration was presided over by the Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. This is the Mass with which the establishment of the Eucharist and of the Ministerial Priesthood is remembered: about 250 priests concelebrated and renewed the vows of the day of their ordination.
The rite of the “washing of the feet” was held during this celebration, and the holy oils were blessed.
In his homily the Patriarch invited people to live the Triduum “at the school of the Cenacle, to learn the style of the disciple from Jesus.” Three attitudes are indicated: “awareness” that evil is not the last word and that even in darkness it is possible to live “with deep trust that darkness cannot defeat the light.”
The second attitude is the gift of the self, which Jesus teaches in the “washing of the feet” and in establishing the Eucharist and the Priesthood. Lastly, consolation: “Consoling is deciding to stay together, despite everything. The Resurrection is nothing but this decision which finally is victorious.”
The Patriarch concluded: “There is no night that love cannot light up, there is no failure that the Cross cannot transform, there is no wound that Easter cannot transfigure!”
The rite of the “washing of the feet” took place in front of the Edicule: the Patriarch washed, dried and kissed the feet of six Franciscans and six seminarians of the Latin Patriarchate.
During the celebration, the oil of the catechumens and the oil of the ill were blessed and the holy chrism – the oil mixed with perfumes which is used in the sacraments of Baptism, of Confirmation and of the Order and also in the dedication of churches and altars - was consecrated.
The Patriarch (like every bishop in the celebration of the Chrism) after having added the perfume to the chrism blew on it, which means the transmission of the spiritual breath of the apostles into the oil which will create new Christians and priests.
The liturgy came to an end with the procession pof the Eucharist: the priests and the Patriarch with the pyx holding the consecrated hosts went round the Edicule three times (the last one also including the Stone of the Unction). The Patriarch then placed the pyx in the tabernacle on the empty tomb. The hosts are distributed during the Good Friday celebration.
Marinella Bandini
