Sacred Paschal Triduum

THE HOLY WEEK AND THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM 2018

The Paschal Mystery refers to the way Christ’s actions continue to save us: by dying he destroyed our death, and by rising he restored our life. The Sacred Paschal Triduum celebrates this Mystery, making this the most important time of the liturgical year. Our Triduum began  with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening and concluded with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday

Holy Thursday Rites

The Solemn Lauds and Mass of the Holy Chrism for the Diocese of Paranaque was held at the El Shaddai International House of Prayer. Priests of the diocese gathered   for the year’s Chrism Mass, when the Bishop blessed the Holy Oils  used sacramentally for Baptism, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick in the diocese. The oils were then brought to each parish and formally presented during the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the same day. The Chrism Mass is also the time when the priests renewed  their solemn commitment to the priestly life. MMGC was given the privilege of leading the assembly in the Sang Lauds. During the Mass, we joined the Diocesan Grand Choir with the parishes of the diocese. Two of our lectors and five of our altar servers also served during the Mass.

The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

On the feast of Passover, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper in which he gave his disciples his Body and Blood when He said, “Do this in memory of me.” This meal we make present in our celebration of every Mass. The Entrance antiphon: “Krus ng ating kaligtasan, dapat nating ikarangal, sagisag ng kalayaan at ng muling pagkabuhay ni Hesus na ating mahal ” was chanted for the Entrance procession. The Gloria was sang and the bells were rang . The psalm that followed, “Sa kalis ng pagliligtas, si Kristo ang tinatanggap,” linked  the Exodus reading with the new covenant of Christ’s passion and death. The Second Reading was the Pauline account of the Last Supper institution. The Gospel from St John narrated the command to love and the service (washing of the disciples’ feet) that flows from this command. The Washing of the Feet had our  parish priest washing the feet of fifteen youth of the parish. This gesture reiterated Jesus’ command and our recommitment in serving one another. This then complements the Eucharist. The Holy Oils, blessed at the Chrism Mass earlier, was  presented to the community. The hymn Ubi Caritas et Amor accompanied  the procession, a statement through symbol and gesture, of what the Eucharist truly means. After Communion, all unconsumed consecrated hosts were  transferred to the Altar of Repose designed for this purpose. The Tagalog translation of Pange Lingua accompanied the transfer, with the Latin text sang when the Blessed Sacrament was reposed. Then began our vigils where we spent time in silent prayer and adoration until midnight. The altar table was then stripped.

Rites of Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

In the afternoon, the community gathered for the  Novena to the Divine Mercy  at 3 PM and was followed by the Service of the Lord’s Passion at 3:30 PM. The liturgy of the day was marked with  sobriety, starkness and quiet reflection. In silence, the priest entered the sanctuary and prostrated on the floor, signifying both the abasement of humanity and the grief of the Church. We heard the Suffering Servant oracle and were  one in spirit as we recalled  the last words of the Lord on the cross during the responsorial psalm. In listening to St John’s Passion account, we refreshed  our memories with the events that led to our Lord’s passion and death. We heard the Solemn Intercessions and followed the ancient posture of kneeling and standing as each intercession was read. We took  time to venerate the cross barefoot by making some kind of tangible sign of our gratitude for Christ’s selfless action. The hymns, “Ang mga Hinanakit”, “O Mapalad na Krus na Banal” were sang with other solemn Good Friday hymns. The liturgy ended with the Solemn Procession of Good Friday. The Good Friday procession was held after the silent veneration. We walked with Jesus to Calvary, meditating on his passion and death, and with his friends, buried  Him to the Sepulcher. This was followed by the Silent Veneration of the Santo Entierro.

Easter Vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection

On the most holy night of the year, the community gathered for the “Mother of all vigils,” the Easter Vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection.

At 8:30 in the evening, we recited the second day of our novena to the Divine Mercy afterwhich the Solemn Vigil for the Resurrection of the Lord was celebrated. The Vigil service is the high point of the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and therefore of the entire liturgical year. We started  in the church courtyard, where the blessing of the fire took place and where the Paschal Candle, symbol of the Risen Lord, was lit. We proceeded to a dark church, where light from the Paschal Candle was passed  to everyone present. The Exultet, the Church’s most joyful proclamation, was chanted and accompanied by the Dance of the Lights. We then listened  to the story of salvation history in the Liturgy of the Word, with readings and their accompanying psalms and prayer. The Gloria was once again sung; the Alleluia intoned. The Gospel of the Lord’s Resurrection was proclaimed. We welcomed new members into the faith in the Liturgy of Christian Initiation, and following this was the Renewal of Baptismal Promises by the assembly. We celebrated a joyful Paschal meal together in the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist followed, with the community partaking of Holy Communion. The Vigil ended around 12: 15 MN.

The Easter Salúbong

Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection is the highlight of our liturgical calendar. The Resurrection is the basis of our Christian faith. Jesus’ Resurrection is the triumph of good over evil, of life over death. The Salubong is the traditional dramatization of the meeting of the Risen Christ and His mother. Though not found in Scriptures, Holy Mother the Church affirms the great love the Son had for his Mother when, even at the most important event in His life, Jesus must have shown himself to Mother Mary. The Salubong or the Encuentro fixes our gaze on this wonderful mystery.

The Salubong processions started at 4:30 AM and was highlighted by the unveiling of the black veil of the Blessed Mother and the singing of the Regina Coeili. The old Paranaque tradition of Sayaw ng Bati followed. The first Easter Sunday Mass was celebrated at the grotto.

Xristos anesti! Alithos anesti! Alleluia! Alleluia!