Celebrate Holy Week with Us!

Published: March 20, 2016

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Holy Week is here! Although it’s a busy time for the Parish staff, liturgical assistants, and musicians – and even the pastor! – it’s also the best time. From the procession on Palm Sunday through to the last Easter hymn, the mysteries of our faith celebrated during Holy Week are so profound that they’re worth any inconvenience.

Of course, being the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Baton Rouge gives us a few special points of celebration. Throughout Holy Week we’re privileged to have Bishop Muench as presider at the principal liturgies. The Church’s mandate for everyone’s “full, conscious and active participation” at worship is best accomplished when shared by bishop, priests, deacons and laity (and among these last, consecrated religious women and men who have pride of place among them).

In this vein, make a special effort to come on Wednesday morning during Holy Week to the Chrism Mass here. This unique Eucharist is concelebrated by all of the priests of the diocese. Two important things happen during the celebration. The first is the solemn recommitment of the priests to serve God and His holy Catholic Church. Over the years many people have told me that this is one of the most impressive moments they’ve ever witnessed at any Mass. The second event is also important: the Blessing of the Holy Oils used throughout the year: the Oil of Catechumens which heals the unbaptized, the Oil of the Sick which strengthens the ill and aged, and the Oil of Chrism which anoints bishops, priests and confirmation candidates to be leaders in the Church. All in all it’s a wonderful ceremony: if you can possibly make it, I guarantee you’ll find it impressive.

But most importantly I want to point out that you should if at all possible share in the official prayer of the Church on its “high holy days,” the Sacred Triduum. Our solemn services are on Holy Thursday at 6 pm, on Good Friday at 3 pm, and on Holy Saturday at 8 pm. They not only recall to our minds the greatest events of our salvation; they also bring us into intimate spiritual contact with Jesus Christ, our Lord. We accompany Him, as it were, as He gives His All for us. We share His pain and His glorification. We don’t deserve what He did for us, of course, but when we nevertheless join together to remember and thank Him, in some small measure we make up for some of this guilt and responsibility.

Theologically the celebration of the Great Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night is the most significant of the Triduum services. Years ago a classmate of mine in Washington State once led his Parish in observing it over the whole night, extending and expanding its candlelight vigil of Scripture, music, prayer and waiting, and sacramental initiation until a joyous, dawn Mass of Easter joy. Don’t worry, I’m not tempted to do THAT! But I have to admit it would be a most unique way to highlight the importance of the holy night. Our service here will try to do justice to the mystery without being more than two hours long!

My own personal “favorite” Triduum service is the Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. Here at the Cathedral we’re especially fortunate to have a relic of the True Cross on which Jesus died, and we use it on Good Friday: it’s embedded on the front of the rugged cypress cross which we bring forward for veneration. Like ashes on Ash Wednesday, the Veneration of the Holy Cross on Good Friday is available to everyone, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, even those who for various reasons cannot receive Holy Communion worthily. Please make it a part of your devotion, especially since it may be the starting-point for a more thorough reconciliation with God and His Church.

So, please join us here at the Cathedral in this Holy Week!

One final word: don’t forget to buy your tickets to “An Evening at the Cathedral” on Saturday, April 16. The 4 pm Mass and following banquet is a highlight of our Parish’s year. 

In the love of Christ,

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