The Good Friday Office Vestments: Black I Class
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The Extraordinary Form of The Roman Rite The Good Friday office Vestments: Black I Class. Feria Extract from General Decree restoring the liturgy of Holy Week: "Let the faithful be led to understand properly today's special liturgical act, in which the Passion of our Lord is solemnly chanted: prayers offered for the needs of the whole Church and the human race: the Holy Cross, monument of our Redemption, is adored most devoutly by clergy and faithful, the whole family of Christ: finally, as for hundred of years was the practice, all who wish and are duly prepared go forward to receive Communion with this as their chief intention, that by devoutly receiving the Body of the Lord (which He delivered this day for all men) they may enjoy richer fruits of that Redemption. Let the priests urge the faithful to make this sacred day one of loving recollection, neither should they forget the law of abstinence and fasting." The instruction given by Pope Pius XII stipulates that Good Friday's solemn liturgy take place after noon; the best time would be three o'clock. The same Pope revives the old practice of all receiving Communion this day as a necessary part of the liturgical function. This consists of four main divisions, each of which has its own historical interest, the whole forming a dramatic representation of the Sacred Passion. I, II. The first two parts consist of readings from Scripture and a prayer, followed by the Passion according to St. John. It is concluded by a long series of prayers for various intentions. In this part we have preserved the form of the earliest Christian prayer-meeting, a service which was derived from the Jewish Synagogue. To this service of Scriptural readings the celebration of the Eucharist was afterwards joined to form the one solemn act of worship now called the "Mass". The Mass still preserves these distinct divisions: the first from the 033Mass033115 Page 1 of 36 beginning to the Offertory, in which the Introit and Gloria are included; the second from the Offertory to the Communion. The first division is called the Mass of the Catechumens, (for the Catechumens were not permitted to remain for the celebration of the Eucharist); the second, the Mass of the Faithful. III. The third part consists of the unveiling and adoration of the Cross. This ceremony was originally connected with the relic of the true Cross, and had its origin in Jerusalem. A veiled Crucifix is gradually exposed to view, and three times at the words “Venite adoremus” the faithful kneel in adoration of the Cross. IV. The fourth part, the Communion of Priest and people, completes what used to be known as the Mass of the Presanctified. Today's liturgy clearly does not constitute a Mass, for there is no Consecration; all who communicate receive sacred particles consecrated at the Mass of the previous day. This form of "Mass" is familiar in the Greek rite. The service opens with a Mass of the Catechumens in what is perhaps its oldest and simplest form. It has neither Introit, Gloria, nor Credo, but consists merely of two lessons, followed each by a Tract, also taken from the Prophets. The Gospel is the Passion according to St John. This is followed by the most ancient form of intercession. The Priest (formerly the Deacon) makes a solemn appeal to the faithful, telling for whom each Prayer is to be offered: for the Church, the Pope, the Bishops, Priests, etc., the Jews, pagans, heretics, prisoners, etc. The “Flectamus genua” is said and all kneel down to pray until the Subdeacon bids them rise. Then the Celebrant turns to God, Almighty and Eternal, and formulates the prayer in the name of all. This was the oldest form of the Collect or public prayer. The Adoration of the Cross, which follows the Collect, is a rite by itself. The veneration of the Cross is very old and found expression most naturally on Good Friday. The ceremony observed in the fourth century, in the Church of Golgotha, differs little from that carried out at the present day, in the Church of Holy Cross in Jerusalem (where the most precious relics of the Passion are preserved) and in all our Catholic churches. The antiphons and responsories which are sung during the adoration of the Cross, are called Improperia or Reproaches. They form one of the most tragic features of this Friday service, which is a real drama and suggested the medieval Passion-plays. The Adoration of the Cross is followed by a short service. The Ciborium containing the sacred Hosts consecrated yesterday is brought in silence with the simplest of ceremonial from the Altar of Repose. Preparation for Communion is 033Mass033115 Page 2 of 36 fittingly made by all standing to recite the Pater Noster in unison, and the Communion itself is followed at once by three prayers of thanksgiving. These end the day's solemn function. The Sacred ministers, wearing black stoles, come to the Altar, lie prostrate before it, and pray silently for a few moments. A signal is given; whereupon all kneel upright except the Celebrant who stands facing the altar steps and sings in ferial tone: The Sacred Ministers sit while a lector reads the first lesson without title. Deus, qui peccáti véteris hereditáriam O God, by the Passion of Thy Christ, mortem, in qua posteritátis genus omne our Lord, has loosened the bonds of succésserat, Christi tui, Dómini nostri, death, that heritage of the first sin to passióne solvísti: da, ut, confórmes which all men of later times did eidem facti; sicut imáginem terrénæ, succeed: make us so conformed to Him natúræ necessitáte portávimus, ita that, as we must needs have borne the imáginem cæléstis, grátiæ likeness of earthly nature, so we may sanctificatióne portémus. Per eundem by sanctification bear the likeness of Christum Dóminum nostrum. Omnes heavenly grace. Through the same respondent: Amen. Christ our Lord. All: Amen. I. READINGS FROM SCRIPTURE. PASSION. The Prophecy from Osee, 6. 1-6. The infinite mercies of God are about to be poured down on Christians doing penance. Hæc dicit Dóminus: In tribulatióne Thus says the Lord: In their affliction sua mane consúrgent ad me: Veníte, they will rise early to Me: Come, and let et revertámur ad Dóminum: quia ipse us return to the Lord, for He hath taken cepit, et sanábit nos: percútiet, et us, and He will heal us, He will strike, curábit nos. Vivificábit nos post duos and He will cure us. He will revive us dies: in die tértia suscitábit nos, et after two days: on the third day He will vivémus in conspéctu eius. Sciémus, raise us up and we shall live in His sight. sequemúrque, ut cognoscámus We shall know and we shall follow on, Dóminum: quasi dilúculum that we may know the Lord. His going præparátus est egréssus eius, et forth is prepared as the morning light and véniet quasi imber nobis He will come to us as the early and the temporanéus, et serótinus terræ, Quid latter rain to the earth. What shall I do to 033Mass033115 Page 3 of 36 fáciant tibi, Ephraim? Quid fáciam thee, O Ephraim? What shall I do to tibi, Iuda? misericórdia vestra quasi Thee, O Juda? Your mercy is as a nubes matutína: et quasi ros mane morning cloud and as the dew that goes pertránsiens. Propter hoc dolávi in away in the morning. For this reason have prophétis, occídi eos in verbis oris I hewed them by the Prophets, I have mei: et iudícia tua quasi lux slain them by the words of my mouth: egrediéntur. Quia misericórdiam and thy judgments shall go forth as the volui, et non sacrifícium, et light. For I desired mercy and not sciéntiam Dei, plus quam holocáusta. sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than holocausts. Tract (Habacuc. 3, 2-3) Dómine, audívi audítum tuum, O Lord, I have heard Thy hearing and et tímui: considerávi ópera tua, was afraid: I have considered Thy et expávi. V. In médio duórum works and trembled. In the midst of two animálium innotescéris: dum animals Thou shalt be made known: appropinquáverint anni, when the years shall draw nigh Thou cognósceris: dum advénerit shalt be known: when the time shall tempus, ostendéris. V. In eo, come, Thou shalt be manifested. When dum conturbáta fúerit ánima my soul shall be in trouble, Thou wilt mea: in ira, misericórdiæ remember mercy, even in Thy wrath. memor eris. V. Deus a Líbano God will come from Libanus, and the véniet, et Sanctus de monte Holy One from the shady and thickly umbróso et condénso. covered mountain. His majesty covered V. Opéruit cælos maiéstas eius: the heavens: and the earth is full of His et laudis eius plena est terra. praises. After the Tract the Priest sings: “Oremus” (let us pray); the Deacon: “Flectamus genua”(let us kneel); and the Subdeacon: “Levate”(Let us rise) Deus, a quo et Iudas reátus sui pœnam, O God, from whom Judas received the et confessiónis suæ latro præmium punishment of his guilt, and the thief the sumpsit, concéde nobis tuæ reward of his confession: grant unto us the propitiatiónis efféctum: ut, sicut in full fruit of Thy clemency; that even as in passióne sua Iesus Christus, Dóminus His Passion our Lord Jesus Christ gave noster, divérsa utrísque íntulit stipéndia to each retribution according to his merits, meritórum: ita nobis, abláto vetustátis so having cleared away our former guilt, erróre, resurrectiónis suæ grátiam He may bestow on us the "grace of His 033Mass033115 Page 4 of 36 largiátur: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in Resurrection: Who lives and reigns in the unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per unity of the Holy Spirit, Who is God, ómnia sæcula sæculórum.