Friday, March 25, 2005
Incidentally, welcome to the Triduum
Vatican, Mar. 24 (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II (bio - news) sent a message saying that he was joined "in heart and in spirit" as the Easter Triduum began at the Vatican.
Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, presided at the Mass of the Lord's Supper in St. Peter's Basilica on the evening of Holy Thursday, March 24. As he began the ceremony, the Colombian cardinal read a message in which Pope John Paul sent his greetings "with great affection" to the faithful participating in what he called "the first act of the Easter Triduum, the culminating point of the liturgical year."
In his homily, Cardinal Lopez Trujillo spoke of the Eucharist, instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, as "the respiration that brings oxygen to the whole Church and continually rejuvenates the community of believers." The power of the Eucharist, he said, reached "the poorest, most innocent and defenseless, the sick who are often considered a burden."
In an evident allusion to abortion and euthanasia-- and a comment that bore upon the plight of Terri Schiavo in the US-- the cardinal said that "man is not the arbiter of life, and cannot reject this precious gift." He paid homage to Pope John Paul as a "defender and tireless witness for the real quality of life, which we must proclaim and defend."
During the Holy Thursday ceremony, Cardinal Lopez Trujillo performed the traditional washing of the feet of 12 priests, in a gesture reminiscent of Christ's washing the feet of his apostles.
At the conclusion of the liturgical celebration, the Blessed Sacrament was removed from the tabernacle to an Altar of Repose, to remain there until Easter Sunday. After the Holy Thursday service, Mass will not be celebrated again until the Easter Vigil.
Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, presided at the Mass of the Lord's Supper in St. Peter's Basilica on the evening of Holy Thursday, March 24. As he began the ceremony, the Colombian cardinal read a message in which Pope John Paul sent his greetings "with great affection" to the faithful participating in what he called "the first act of the Easter Triduum, the culminating point of the liturgical year."
In his homily, Cardinal Lopez Trujillo spoke of the Eucharist, instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, as "the respiration that brings oxygen to the whole Church and continually rejuvenates the community of believers." The power of the Eucharist, he said, reached "the poorest, most innocent and defenseless, the sick who are often considered a burden."
In an evident allusion to abortion and euthanasia-- and a comment that bore upon the plight of Terri Schiavo in the US-- the cardinal said that "man is not the arbiter of life, and cannot reject this precious gift." He paid homage to Pope John Paul as a "defender and tireless witness for the real quality of life, which we must proclaim and defend."
During the Holy Thursday ceremony, Cardinal Lopez Trujillo performed the traditional washing of the feet of 12 priests, in a gesture reminiscent of Christ's washing the feet of his apostles.
At the conclusion of the liturgical celebration, the Blessed Sacrament was removed from the tabernacle to an Altar of Repose, to remain there until Easter Sunday. After the Holy Thursday service, Mass will not be celebrated again until the Easter Vigil.
