I'll also be posting some information on how pictures can be ordered, once I get the link corrected. I may have to delete the gallery to fix it, so I do not recommend ordering from Smugmug yet. Parents of altar boys especially want pictures, and I've made it possible for individuals to order without my involvement. More on that later.
These flower petals will be used later.
Master of Ceremonies, Dale, processes ahead of the ministers. From the back is Fr. Perrone, the celebrant. Fr. Aidan Logan, a Cistercian monk wearing the hood is the deacon of the Mass, and Fr. John Bustamante is the subdeacon.
Fr. Logan delivered the sermon. He has provided text and it is found here.
Fr. Perrone washed the feet of 12 men of the parish.
Next to the elevation, seen above, this below is one of the most beautiful scenes in the usus antiquior. The deacon and subdeacon are showing reverence for the sacredness of the moment when the celebrant consumes the Body of Christ and the Precious Blood. This visible sign of reverence should draw us into deeper prayer, if we are not yet there.
The Eucharistic procession begins.
Children distribute rose petals all along the path Our Lord takes to the Altar of Repose.
During the Gloria we heard the bells and trumpet. But the bells gave way to the crotalus - a wooden "clapper." Two are seen here, with one in motion. See a discussion of it at Sancta Missa. Flower petals are readily visible floor.
Altar boys are in place, kneeling at the Altar of Repose, waiting for Fr. Perrone and the Eucharist.
After the priests and altar boys exited, the remaining Consecrated Hosts were removed from the Tabernacle by Fr. Logan. Once again, the Ombrellino is used to cover the Eucharist, along with the Humeral Veil which is draped around the shoulders of the priest and over the Blessed Sacrament. This covering of the Eucharist has Old Testament roots. Think of how the Ark of the Covenant was veiled and covered. Some of these things are no longer practiced in parishes, which is a pity because it provides an opportunity to show and discuss these connections.
Below we see the Stripping of the Altar by the deacon of the Mass and subdeacon. The altar boys carry away what the priests give them, and other things like flowers. We see Fr. Perrone standing in the center, and with assistance, chants from Psalm 21 (see the full prayer and discussion here, towards the end). The antiphon is striking. As the ministers remove the altar covering, the antiphon is chanted: They parted my garments amongst them, and upon my vesture they cast lots (Ps 21:19). Think about that.
Here is something from the Catholic Encyclopedia on Stripping of Altars:
The Christian altarrepresents Christ, and the stripping of the altar reminds us how He was stripped of his garments when He fell into the hands of the Jews and was exposed naked to their insults. It is for this reason that the psalm "Deus, Deus meus" is recited, wherein the Messias speaks of the Roman soldiers dividing His garments among them. This ceremony signifies the suspension of the Holy Sacrifice. It was formerly the custom in some churches on this day to wash the altars with a bunch of hyssop dipped in wine and water, to render them in some manner worthy of the Lamb without stain who is immolated on them, and to recall to the minds of the faithful with how great purity they should assist at the Holy Sacrifice and receive Holy Communion.St. Isidore of Seville (De Eccles. Off, I, xxviii) and St. Eligius of Noyon (Homil. VIII, De Coena Domini) say that this ceremony was intended as an homageoffered to Our Lord, in return for the humility wherewith He deigned to wash the feet of His disciples.
After the Altars were stripped, the clerics and some of the altar boys chanted Compline using the older breviary.
People then gathered at the Altar of Repose until Midnight.
Around 10:00 p.m. a group of Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's order) came in to sit with Our Lord. They travel quite a distance from the other side of Detroit. One is seen here in the foreground.
See more photos from Holy Thursday 2014 at my Smugmug gallery. Please link to this blog post rather than directly to the gallery itself so people may have information found here.
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Te Deum Laudamus! Home
The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski
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