Appendix: Liturgical and Pastoral Norms for the Celebration of Holy Week

Liturgical and Pastoral Norms for the Celebration of Holy Week

Mar 29, 2020

A) The date of Easter remains as April 12, 2020 this year. As clarified by the decree of the Vatican, this date cannot be changed because this feast is “at the heart of the entire liturgical year.”

B) The Chrism Mass, in which the holy oils are blessed and priests renew their priestly promises, will be moved to a later date to be announced at the end of this restriction period.

C) Palm Sunday: there will be no blessing of palms or procession.

D) Holy Thursday: Parish Priests will celebrate the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper but without the traditional Washing of Feet or the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Place of Repose. The faculty to celebrate Mass without the people is granted in an exceptional manner to all priests. The Blessed Sacrament is to be reposed in the Tabernacle. Communities of consecrated persons and laity are encouraged to observe common prayer in their respective houses and homes, which may include praying the Divine Office or the rosary together. Members of Religious Houses or families may wash each other’s feet.

E) Good Friday: In the Cathedral and parish churches, the Bishop or Parish Priest will celebrate the Passion of the Lord. In the Universal Prayer,  there should be a special intention for the sick, the dead, for those who feel lost or dismayed (cf Missale Romanum, pag. 314 n. 13). According to local circumstances, the priest may privately venerate the cross and receive holy communion.

F) Easter Vigil: The Lucenarium, the Lighting of Fire and Preparation of the Candle are to be omitted.  The Paschal Candle is lit, the procession is omitted and the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) follows. The Liturgy of the Word then takes place. For the Baptismal Liturgy, the Renewal of Baptismal Promises alone is necessary. (cf. Missale Romanum, pg. 371, n. 55). The Liturgy of the Eucharist then follows. Those who have absolutely no possibility of uniting themselves to the Paschal Vigil celebrated in a church, by watching online broadcast, should pray the Office of Readings for Easter Sunday.

G) Baptisms and confirmations of adults which were scheduled for Easter are to be postponed to a later date.

H) The Laity are encouraged to pray the Divine Office and avail themselves of devotions of popular piety — praying the Way of the Cross, fasting, making spiritual communion, praying the Divine Mercy Novena etc during this period.

I) The various arch/dioceses will continue to provide daily live streamed Masses for as long as possible. The priests are also encouraged to connect with their people through the use of online conferencing applications, social media and other online resources, if these are available. The Social Communications Ministry of the various arch/dioceses are prepared to provide assistance to parishes, ministries and priests

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