6 The Blessed Sacrament should be unless special permission has been necessary announcements are to be reserved in a closed tabernacle or pyx. received from the bishop. spoken before the entrance of the priest Under no circumstances may it be and the ministers (Paschale Solemnitatis, exposed in a monstrance (Paschalis Presider: The celebrant of this liturgy is a 65). There is to be no processional or Sollemnitatis #55). priest. Deacons assist, but may not gathering song. The liturgy also ends in preside at the celebration of the Lord’s silence with no recessional song. The place where the tabernacle or pyx is Passion. As a sign of humility, grief and However, the sung participation of the situated must not be made to resemble a sorrow for the church, the priest and the assembly, at the appropriate times tomb, and the expression "tomb" is to be deacon prostrate before the altar at the indicated in the Roman Missal, is integral avoided. The chapel of repose is not beginning of the liturgy. All others kneel to the liturgy. prepared so as to represent the "Lord's (RM, Good Friday 5). burial" but for the custody of the CHARACTER OF GOOD FRIDAY eucharistic bread that will be distributed Intercessions: The intercessions are to in Communion on Good Friday.(Paschalis follow the wording and form handed On Good Friday, we reflect on the Lord’s Sollemnitatis 55). down by ancient tradition, maintaining suffering and death, the awesome extent the full range of intentions (Paschale of Christ’s love, and consider our own Adoration: The faithful should be Solemnitatis, 67). willingness to sacrifice for others. We encouraged to spend some time in reflect on the humble obedience of Christ, adoration throughout the remainder of Adoration of the Cross: The rubrics in the and we seek the guidance and strength of the evening. If appropriate, the Gospel of Roman Missal speak of using a “cross” for the Spirit which helps us to be obedient to John, chapters 13-17, may be read aloud adoration. This means a cross without a God’s call in our lives. It is, above all other at various times during this period of corpus affixed to it. The ritual of adoring days, a day of quiet and contemplation. adoration. If adoration is to continue after a relic of the true cross, and then later the That contemplation is nurtured and midnight, it is to be in silence (Paschalis symbol of the cross as the instrument of guided by the Liturgy of the Lord’s Sollemnitatis 55, 56). our salvation dates to at least the 4th Passion. The willingness to sacrifice is Century. Thus it is an ancient and reflected in obedience to the call to the Concluding Rites of the Mass of the venerable tradition. However, the USCCB Paschal fast and its law of abstinence in a Lord’s Supper: The Mass of the Lord’s document, Built of Living Stones #83 spirit of penitence. Supper ends in silence after the Blessed states, “The celebration of the Lord's Sacrament has been reposed. There is no passion on Good Friday has its particular Likewise, parishes and schools should be blessing or dismissal because the liturgy spatial requirements. After the mindful of the solemnity of this day when continues the next day with the proclamation of the passion and the scheduling events and celebrations. All Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. The General Intercessions, the entire assembly members of the Catholic family of the altar and sanctuary are to be bare rise to venerate the cross or crucifix.” Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux are urged to following the Liturgy. Thus while tradition and the Roman give genuine witness to the true spirit of Missal seem to prefer the use of a cross Good Friday by prioritizing participation in Precious Blood: Under no circumstances for veneration, Built of Living Stones the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and in is it permitted to reserve the Precious permits the use of a crucifix. dedicating time to personal and private Blood for adoration on Holy Thursday and prayer. for distribution on Good Friday (Norms In any event, during the adoration of the for the Distribution of Holy Communion, cross, only one cross or crucifix should be In view of the above, we should gently 54). used (RM, Good Friday, 19). remind the faithful that the quiet, gentle, reflective and prayerful spirit of Good GOOD FRIDAY HOLY COMMUNION Friday should be maintained the whole day, even if the family gathers for a meal T i m e : T h e Before the liturgy begins, the Blessed on this day. We should remember that it celebration of Sacrament is to be in the Holy Thursday is a day of fasting, and the festivity that is t h e L o r d ' s place of repose. Following Holy often a part of crawfish boils on this day Passion, the Communion, what remains of the Blessed does not reflect the spirit of the day p r i n c i p a l Sacrament should be consumed except described above. Our festivity, even celebration of for what is needed for Viaticum. These are outside of Church, should be reserved for this day, should take place about 3 p.m. to be reserved in a secure place outside Easter. unless a later time is chosen for pastoral the church (RM, 22, 29). need. The celebration of the Lord’s STATIONS OF THE CROSS Passion may not be celebrated after 9 SILENCE p.m. (Paschale Solemnitatis, 63). It is permissible to celebrate the Stations The celebration of the Lord’s Passion is of the Cross, however, the Liturgy of the Number of Celebrations: There should be characterized by somberness and quiet. Lord’s Passion is to be the main focus of only one celebration of the Lord’s Passion The liturgy begins in silence and any the day. Care should be taken that if the 7 Way of the Cross is celebrated that it not Church Lights and Communion (National Statutes for RCIA, be done in a way that overshadows the People’s Candles: 32-34). Baptized Candidates alone should central liturgical celebration of Good lit after the never be initiated at the Easter Vigil. Friday (see Paschalis Sollemnitatis #72). deacon sings the Catechized (having received both Baptism third “Light of and Eucharist) adult Catholics are never to HOLY SATURDAY Christ.”People’s candles may be be confirmed at the Easter Vigil. extinguished after singing of Exultet. Children of Catechetical Age (beyond 2nd Altar Candles: lit at singing of the Gloria. Grade or 7 years of age): when they have completed the required periods of the Candles at the Gospel reading: not used. RCIA adapted for them are to be fully initiated, or complete their Christian People’s Candles: lit a) after baptisms and initiation. For these children the before the renewal of baptismal promises sacraments of initiation should not be by the faithful, or b) after the blessing of separated. water if there are no candidates for Blessed Sacrament: At the beginning of baptism. Baptism of Children: The Rite of Baptism the Easter Vigil, the tabernacle is to be of Children (infants) states: “To bring out empty with the door open and the lights READINGS the Paschal character of baptism, it is are to be turned off in the church. The recommended that the sacrament be faithful should be invited to gather at the The Easter Vigil prescribes a total of 7 Old celebrated during the Easter Vigil or on place where the Easter fire will be Testament readings, however a minimum Sunday when the Church commemorates blessed. of three may be read, plus the Epistle and the Lord’s resurrection.” However, if the Gospel. The decision to minimize the adults are being initiated at the Easter TIME FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE number of readings for the Easter Vigil Vigil it is not advisable to have the EASTER VIGIL should be seriously considered; time is baptism of infants in the same liturgy, not necessarily the most important unless the infant to be baptized is the The Roman Missal states: “The entire consideration. Exodus 14 and its canticle child of the elect or candidate. celebration of the Easter Vigil must take must never be omitted (RM, Easter Vigil place during the night, so that it begins 21). The prayers which follow each psalm WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS, AND FUNERALS after nightfall and ends before daybreak and canticle help to put the reading in its on the Sunday.” No Mass may precede context and are to be maintained. In WEDDINGS the Easter Vigil. Only one Easter Vigil addition, the priest or deacon may choose Mass is to be celebrated in each parish to give an additional introduction to each Weddings may not be celebrated during (RM, Easter Vigil 3). Sunset for this area reading (Paschale Solemnitatis, 86). the Easter Triduum, including on Holy on April 12, 2020 is at 7:28 PM and Saturday after the Vigil and Easter Sunday twilight ends around 7:53 PM. THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF (RM). EASTER VIGIL MAY NOT BEGIN BEFORE ADULTS 8:00 PM. NO BAPTISMS FROM HOLY THURSDAY The Roman Missal states that baptism is UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE EASTER THE PASCHAL CANDLE one of the four parts of the Easter Vigil, VIGIL celebrated “as day approaches, with new The paschal candle is to be members reborn in Baptism.” Baptisms may not be celebrated on Holy made of wax, never artificial, Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday and renewed each year. Initiation of the Elect and Candidates: before the Easter Vigil (RM).