Symbols in liturgy of the large Week #2 – large Thursday

On the large Thursday, the Church celebrates 2 unique Holy Masses. The first is the Holy Cross Mass, celebrated in the morning by bishops in cathedral churches, during which Holy Oils are blessed. In the evening, the faithful gather in all the temples at the Mass of the Lord's Supper, commemorating the establishment of the sacraments of the Eucharist and Priesthood. In this article, which is the second part of the series “Symbole in the liturgy of the Holy Week”, we explain the symbolism of the large Thursday, based primarily on the work “The Liturgical Year” by Prosper Guéranger OSB.

The Blessing of Oils

The choice of the large Thursday as a day of the blessing of Saints Oils is primarily practical. They are needed 2 days later, during Passover Eve, to sacrifice baptismal water and to baptize catechumens. In its rites, the Church uses 3 kinds of Saint Oil.

The first is Sick oil, utilized to give the sacrament of Last Anointing. It removes the remnants of sin from the dying Christian, strengthens it in the last fight, and, through the supernatural power it possesses, sometimes restores the wellness of the body. – explains Fr. Guéranger. If the priest were in a situation where it is essential to give this sacrament, and he did not have the Oil of the Sick, he could make his own consecration.

The blessing of the Oil of the sick precedes exorcism, designed to dispel the influence of evil spirits who, out of hatred for man, effort to harm the creatures intended for its use.

The most valuable of the oils utilized by the Church is Holy Cross. Its uniqueness is expressed, among another things, in an highly solemn life of consecration. Unlike another oils, it cannot be consecrated by a common priest, but only the bishop is entitled to it.

The Holy Cross is besides characterized by a beautiful smell, due to the fact that during the Mass of the Cross, a balm is added to it, symbolizing what the apostle calls the “love odor of Christ.” As the author of the liturgical year explains, it is through the cross that the Holy Spirit puts on the Christian an indelible mark, confirming his belonging to Christ, in which he was implanted by baptism.

Water gives us spiritual birth; the crucifix gives us strength; and until we receive its holy anointing, we do not yet have a full Christian character. Anointed with this holy oil, a Christian receives a visible sign of belonging to God-Man, whose name Christ means anointing, which he received as King and Priest. This consecration of a Christian through the cross is so consistent with the spirit of our religion that immediately after baptism the kid receives anointing (although it is not sacramental) with this oil to show that he already participates in the royal dignity of Jesus Christ – reads the French liturgist.

The Holy Cross is utilized in many rites: during the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, in the consecration of bishops, in the consecration of cup and altars, in the blessing of bells and in the dedication of the church.

The last—and least known—of the Saints of Oils is Catechumen oil. It is not the substance of any sacrament, but inactive has apostolic origin. The ritual of his blessing, though little solemn than the consecration of the Cross, nevertheless surpasses the celebration of the blessing of the Oil of the Sick.

In the conventional liturgy, Catechumen Oil is used, as the name implies, erstwhile it is anointed by the breasts and shoulders of the recently baptized. However, this is not his only application: it is besides utilized to anoint the hands of priests during consecrations, as well as at the coronation of the king or queen.

Mass of the Lord's Supper – the joy of the establishment of the Eucharist versus the sorrow of the coming Lord's Passion

"Do this in remembrance of me," said the Savior, establishing the sacrament of the Eucharist in the advanced Room. Therefore, all year, on the liturgical anniversary of this event, the Church pays peculiar attention to the Holy Eucharist. For on the Holy Thursday Christ’s prophecy was fulfilled, as John quoted in chapter six of his Gospel: “I am the surviving bread that came down from heaven. If 1 eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread I will give is my body for the life of the world" (Jn 6:51).

Although in most churches on Sundays, and sometimes besides on weekdays, there are respective Holy Masses, the Mass of the Lord's Supper may be celebrated only erstwhile in each temple. This is to be shown by the greatness and unity of the Supper which the Lord gave to his disciples.

The liturgy of the Holy Thursday combines elements expressing the joy of the establishment of the Eucharist and emphasizing the solemn nature of that day with the symbols foreshadowing the coming day of Christ's Passion. Therefore, after the end of the singing Gloria (Glory on height) the organs and bells are silent – the second are replaced by wooden rings. Why does the Church deprive us of so many hours of the wonderful melody of these sweet bells whose voice pleases us for the remainder of the year? This is to make us realize that the planet has lost all melody and joy erstwhile His Savior suffered and was crucified. Moreover, the Church reminds us that the apostles, the heralds of Christ, symbolized by the bells which the beating calls the believers to the home of God, fled from their Divine Master, leaving Him to his enemies. – explains Dom Guéranger.

The conventional priest does not give that day a sign of peace to the deacon to avoid association with Judas' betrayal. For the same reason in singing Agnus Dei The word “dona nobis pacem” (give us peace) is abandoned, replacing it with a 3rd call “miserere nobis” (have mercy on us).

Wash your legs

Many churches practice a rite of washing their feet, called Mandate (from Latin “the commandment”). It is simply a reminder of Christ's gesture, which in the advanced Room, showing humility, washed his disciples' feet. This rite besides emphasizes how much purity is required of those who enter the sacrament of the Eucharist. For Christ himself said, “The washed 1 only needs to wash his feet, for he is clean” (John 13:10).

The sanctity of this table requires that those who come not only be free from the grave sins, but besides search to purify the soul of the lesser failings which are born in contact with the planet and are like dust, covering the feet of the journey – explains the Abbot of Solesmes.

The first mentions of a legwash rite held on large Thursday come from Spain from the late 7th century. It was initially held after the liturgy, but in 1955 it was included in the Holy Mass and placed after the Gospel or sermon.

According to tradition, the priest washes the feet of 12 men. In any places, however, their number can be increased to thirteen. Some explain this in that this number means the fullness of the Holy College, which counts thirteen, due to the fact that St. Maciej was elected to the place of Judas, and the Lord himself named St. Paul as the Apostle after his ascension. – writes Father Guéranger. In post-collaborative liturgy (Novus Ordo) the number of participants in the rite is not clearly defined.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Darkness

After Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in a solemn procession to another altar, so that the faithful can adore Christ there present in the tabernacle. In Poland, this place is called darkening and is decorated like a prison where Christ spent the night before his Passion.

Although the Church suspends the sacrifice of the Most Holy Sacrifice for a fewer short hours, she does not want His Divine Bridegroom to lose even a small reverence in His Sacrament of Love. Catholic devotion has found a way to transform these hard hours into an expression of peculiar reverence for the Holy Eucharist. In each temple, a richly decorated side chapel is prepared..., where after the Mass today, the Church places the Body of her Divine Lord. Though hidden from the eyes of the faithful, they will haunt him in this holy place of rest, offer him the humblest adorations, and present the hottest requests – explains the French liturgist.

Revealing the altars

After the end of the Mass of the Lord's Supper – and sometimes a small later, or after the refusal of the Vespers – the altars are exposed. Almost everything is removed from the main and side altars: candlesticks, cross, tablecloths and another liturgical objects. This symbolizes the suspension of the Most Holy Sacrifice until Passover Eve.

It is hard not to see the connection between this rite and the cleansing of Christ, who was about to die. In the conventional life, during the altars, Psalm 21 (22) is rejected, in which Messiah speaks of Roman soldiers sharing his garments among themselves.

The altar should stay in this desolate state until the regular sacrifice can be offered again to the Divine Majesty, that is, erstwhile the Bridegroom of the Holy Church rises from the grave as the Winner of Death. Now he is in the hands of his enemies, the Jews, who are about to strip him of his garments, just as we strip the altar. I want him exposed to the insults of the crowd. – explains the Abbot of Solesmes.

The temple is surrounded by an atmosphere of abandonment. The Savior no longer resides in Tabernacle, but is transferred to another altar. The majesty of our God has retreated to this mysterious sanctuary, where we enter only in silence and repentance – describes Benedictine.

Source:
Home Prosper Guéranger OSB, Liturgical Year: liturgialatina.org/lithear
popoka.org.pl

Adrian Fyda