Holy Thursday

Yesterday was Holy Thursday. Our evening mass at St. Luke's was, as always, more than I expected. I was just saying to Alan last night how mass on holy days and feast days always exceeds my expectations.

The entrance song was joyous-- Bishop Gainer celebrated the mass with us, our deacons and priests were dressed in very fine robes, and there were bright flowers on the alter. We sang the Gloria for the first time since Lent began and the bells peeled out as we did. The Bishop's homily drew us into remembering Jesus with his disciples during that last meal together. Bishop Gainer then washed the feet of 12 of the men from St. Luke's while we sang, solemnly.

Before the Eucharist a communion chalice was blessed in memory of our deacon's wife who passed away last year. While the Eucharist was served another somber song and then the stripping of the alter. The host was placed in a tabernacle at the side of the church as we sang Pange Lingua (a beautiful song written by St. Thomas Aquinas), even the host from the adoration chapel was removed, the candles were taken out, and the linens were folded by the priests and carried away. Then we all left the church in silence.

I'm not sure what to expect this afternoon for Good Friday but I'm sure it will serve to remind us all of God's love and sacrifice, to help us contemplate the deep mysteries of Christ's death for our sake, and lead us to look forward to His resurrection.