(Usus Antiquior) Holy Thursday, Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (I Classis) – Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Preface, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Offertory

Psalm 117 : 16, 17

Dextera Domini fecit virtutem, dextera Domini exaltavit me : non moriar, sed vivam, et narrabo opera Domini.

English translation

The right hand of the Lord had wrought strength, the right hand of the Lord had exalted me. I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord

Secret Prayer of the Priest

Ipse Tibi, quaesumus, Domine Sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, sacrificium nostrum reddat acceptum, qui discipulis Suis in Sui commemorationem hoc fieri hodierna traditione monstravit, Jesus Christus Filius Tuus, Dominus noster, Qui Tecum vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

We beseech You, o Holy Lord, Almighty Father, Eternal God, that He may render our sacrifice acceptable to You, Who, by giving it to His disciples on this day, taught them that it is done in commemoration of Him, Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Preface of the Holy Cross

Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere : Domine, Sancte Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus : Qui salutem humani generis in ligno Crucis constituisti : ut, unde mors oriebatur, inde vita resurgeret : et, qui in ligno vincebat, in ligno quoque vinceretur : per Christum, Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem Tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Caeli caelorumque Virtutes ac beata Seraphim socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti jubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes :

English translation

It is truly meet and just, right and profitable for us, at all times, and in all places, to give thanks to You, o holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, who had established the salvation of mankind in the wood of the Cross, that from where death into the world, from there a new life might spring, and that he who by a tree overcome, by a tree too might be overthrown. Through Christ our Lord, through whom the angels praise, the Dominations adore, the Powers, trembling with awe and worship Your majesty, which the heavens, and the forces of heaven, together with the blessed Seraphim joyfully magnify You. And You do command that it is to be permitted in our lowliness to join with them in confessing You and repeat unceasingly :

Communion

John 13 : 12, 13, 15

Dominus Jesus, postquam cenavit cum discipulis Suis, lavit pedes eorum, et ait illis : Scitis, quid fecerim vobis Ego, Dominus et Magister? Exemplum dedi vobis, ut et vos ita faciatis.

English translation

The Lord Jesus, after He had eaten supper with His disciples, washed their feet, and said to them, ‘Do you know what I, your Lord and Master, have done for you? I have given you an example, that you should do also.’

Post-Communion Prayer

Refecti vitalibus alimentis, quaesumus, Domine, Deus noster : ut, quod tempore nostrae mortalitatis exsequimur, immortalitalis Tuae munere consequamur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Refreshed with life-giving nourishment, we beseech You, o Lord, our God, that what we perform in the time of our mortality, we may attain by the gift of Your immortality. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

(Usus Antiquior) Holy Thursday, Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (I Classis) – Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Washing of the Feet

Liturgical Colour : Violet

First Antiphon

John 13 : 34 and Psalm 118 : 1

Mandatum novum do vobis : ut diligatis invicem, sicut dilexi vos, dicit Dominus.

Beati immaculati in via : qui ambulant in lege Domini.

Response : Mandatum novum do vobis : ut diligatis invicem, sicut dilexi vos, dicit Dominus.

English translation

A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you, says the Lord.

Blessed are the undefiled in their ways, who walk in the Law of the Lord.

Response : A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you, says the Lord.

Second Antiphon

John 13 : 4, 5, 15 and Psalm 47 : 2

Postquam surrexit Dominus a cena, misit aquam in pelvim, et coepit lavare pedes discipulorum suorum : hoc exemplum reliquit eis.

Magnus Dominus, et laudabilis nimis : in civitate Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus.

Response : Postquam surrexit Dominus a cena, misit aquam in pelvim, et coepit lavare pedes discipulorum suorum : hoc exemplum reliquit eis.

English translation

When the Lord rose from supper, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of His disciples, this was the example He gave unto them.

Great is the Lord and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God in His holy mountain.

Response : When the Lord rose from supper, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of His disciples, this was the example He gave unto them.

Third Antiphon

John 13 : 12, 13, 15 and Psalm 84 : 2

Dominus Jesus, postquam cenavit cum discipulis suis, lavit pedes eorum, et ait illis : Scitis, quid fecerim vobis ego, Dominus et Magister? Exemplum dedi vobis, ut et vos ita faciatis.

Benedixisti, Domine, terram Tuam : avertisti captivitatem Jacob.

Response : Dominus Jesus, postquam cenavit cum discipulis suis, lavit pedes eorum, et ait illis : Scitis, quid fecerim vobis ego, Dominus et Magister? Exemplum dedi vobis, ut et vos ita faciatis.

English translation

The Lord Jesus after He had supper with His disciples washed their feet and said, “Know all of you what I your Lord and Master have done to you? I have given you an example so that you will also do.”

Lord, You have blessed Your land, You have turned away the captivity of Jacob.

Response : The Lord Jesus after He had supper with His disciples washed their feet and said, “Know all of you what I your Lord and Master have done to you? I have given you an example so that you will also do.”

Fourth Antiphon

John 13 : 6-7, 8

Domine, Tu mihi lavas pedes? Respondit Jesus et dixit ei : Si non lavero tibi pedes, non habebis partem mecum.

Priest : Venit ergo ad Simonem Petrum, et dixit ei Petrus.

Response : Domine, Tu mihi lavas pedes? Respondit Jesus et dixit ei : Si non lavero tibi pedes, non habebis partem mecum.

Priest : Quod ego facio, tu nescis modo : scies autem postea.

Response : Domine, Tu mihi lavas pedes? Respondit Jesus et dixit ei : Si non lavero tibi pedes, non habebis partem mecum.

English translation

“Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If I do not wash your feet, you shall have no part with Me.”

Priest : He came therefore to Simon Peter and Peter said to Him,

Response : “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If I do not wash your feet, you shall have no part with Me.”

Priest : “What I do, You do not know now, but you shall understand hereafter.”

Response : “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If I do not wash your feet, you shall have no part with Me.”

Fifth Antiphon

John 13 : 14-15 and Psalm 48 : 2

Si ego, Dominus et Magister vester, lavi vobis pedes : quanto magis debetis alter alterius lavare pedes?

Audite haec, omnes gentes : auribus percipite, qui habitatis orbem.

Response : Si ego, Dominus et Magister vester, lavi vobis pedes : quanto magis debetis alter alterius lavare pedes?

English translation

If I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, how much more you ought to wash one another’s feet?

Hear these things, all you nations, give ear, all you inhabitants of the world.

Response : If I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, how much more you ought to wash one another’s feet?

Sixth Antiphon

John 13 : 35

In hoc cognoscent omnes, quia discipuli mei estis, si dilectionem habueritis ad invicem.

Priest : Dixit Jesus discipulis suis.

Response : In hoc cognoscent omnes, quia discipuli mei estis, si dilectionem habueritis ad invicem.

English translation

By this all men shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Priest : Said Jesus to His disciples.

Response : By this all men shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Seventh Antiphon

1 Corinthians 13 : 13

Maneat in vobis fides, spes, caritas, tria haec : major autem horum est caritas.

Priest : Nunc autem manent fides, spes, caritas, tria haec : major horum est caritas.

Response : Maneat in vobis fides, spes, caritas, tria haec : major autem horum est caritas.

English translation

Ever may there remain in you faith, hope, charity, these three things, but the greater of these is charity.

Priest : And now there remain faith, hope and charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity.

Response : Ever may there remain in you faith, hope, charity, these three things, but the greater of these is charity.

Last Antiphon

1 John

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Response : Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.

Response : Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur.

Response : Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum.

Response : Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

Response : Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Response : Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur.

Response : Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.

Response : Cessent jurgia maligna, cessent lites.

Response : Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus.

Response : Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Response : Simul quoque cum Beatis videamus.

Response : Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus.

Response : Gaudium, quod est immensum atque probum.

Response : Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Where there are charity and love, God is there.

Response : The love of Christ had gathered us together.

Response : Let us exult and be joyful in Him.

Response : Let us fear and love the living God.

Response : And let us love one another with sincere hearts.

Response : Where there are charity and love, God is there.

Response : Being therefore, assembled together.

Response : Let us beware of being divided in mind.

Response : Let malicious upbraidings cease, let wranglings cease.

Response : And may Christ, our God, be in the midst of us.

Response : Where there are charity and love, God is there.

Response : Together with the blessed, too, may we see.

Response : Your face in glory, o Christ, God.

Response : Which is infinitely noble joy.

Response : Through endless ages of ages. Amen.

Prayers after the Antiphon

Priest : Pater Noster qui es in caeli, sanctificetur Nomen Tuum, adveniat regnum Tuum, fiat voluntas Tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.

Response : Sed libera nos a malo.

Priest : Tu mandasti mandata Tua, Domine.

Response : Custodiri nimis.

Priest : Tu lavasti pedes discipulorum Tuorum.

Response : Opera manuum Tuarum ne despicias.

Priest : Domine, exaudi orationem meam.

Response : Et clamor meus ad Te veniat.

Priest : Dominus vobiscum.

Response : Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus

Adesto, Domine, quaesumus, officio servitutis nostrae : et quia Tu discipulis Tuis pedes lavare dignatus es, ne despicias opera manuum Tuarum, quae nobis retinenda mandasti : ut, sicut hic nobis et a nobis exteriora abluuntur inquinamenta; sic a Te omnium nostrum interiora laventur peccata. Quod ipse praestare digneris, qui vivis et regnas Deus : per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Our Father in heaven, Holy be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses just as we have forgiven those who trespassed against us. And lead us not into temptation.

Response : But deliver us from evil.

Priest : You have given us Your commandments, o Lord.

Response : To be exactly observed.

Priest : You had washed the feet of Your disciples.

Response : Do not despise the work of Your hands.

Priest : O Lord, hear my prayer.

Response : And let my cry come unto You.

Priest : The Lord is with you.

Response : And with your spirit.

Let us pray

Be present, o Lord, we beseech You, at the office of our service, and because You had deigned to wash the feet of Your disciples, do not despise the work which Your own hands had performed, and which You had commanded us to perpetuate, so that, as external defilements are thus washed away for us and by us, the inward sins of all of us may be washed by You. Which You had vouchsafed to do for us Yourself, You who lives and reigns, God forever and ever. Amen.

(Usus Antiquior) Holy Thursday, Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (I Classis) – Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John

John 13 : 1-15

Ante diem festum Paschae, sciens Jesus, quia venit hora ejus, ut transeat ex hoc mundo ad Patrem : cum dilexisset suos, qui erant in mundo, in finem dilexit eos. Et cena facta, cum diabolus jam misisset in cor, ut traderet eum Judas Simonis Iscariotae : sciens, quia omnia dedit ei Pater in manus, et quia a Deo exivit, et ad Deum vadit : surgit a cena et ponit vestimenta sua : et cum accepisset linteum, praecinxit se.

Deinde mittit aquam in pelvim, et coepit lavare pedes discipulorum, et extergere linteo, quo erat praecinctus. Venit ergo ad Simonem Petrum. Et dicit ei Petrus : Domine, Tu mihi lavas pedes? Respondit Jesus et dixit ei : Quod ego facio, tu nescis modo, scies autem postea. Dicit ei Petrus : Non lavabis mihi pedes in aeternum. Respondit ei Jesus : Si non lavaro te, non habebis partem mecum.

Dicit ei Simon Petrus : Domine, non tantum pedes meos, sed et manus et caput. Dicit ei Jesus : Qui lotus est, non indiget nisi ut pedes lavet, sed est mundus totus. Et vos mundi estis, sed non omnes. Sciebat enim, quisnam esset, qui traderet eum : proptera dixit : Non estis mundi omnes.

Postquam ergo lavit pedes eorum et accepit vestimenta sua : cum recubuisset iterum, dixit eis : Scitis, quid fecerim vobis? Vos vocatis me Magister et Domine : et bene dicitis : sum etenim. Si ergo ego lavi pedes vestros, Dominus et Magister : et vos debetis alter alterius lavare pedes. Exemplum enim dedi vobis, ut, quemadmodum ergo feci vobis, ita et vos faciatis.

English translation

Before the festival day of the Pascha, Jesus knowing that His hour had come, that He should pass out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them unto the end. And when supper was done, the devil now had put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Him. Knowing that the Father had given Him all things into His hands and that He came from God and would go to God.

He rose from the supper and laid aside His garments and having taken a towel, He girded Himself. After that, He put water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and wiped them with the towel with which He was girded. He came therefore to Simon Peter, and Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do, you do not know now, but you shall understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you shall have no part with Me.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who washed only needs to wash his feet, and he is already wholly clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who was to betray Him, and therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

Then after He had washed their feet and taken His garments, He sat down again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Master and Lord, and you say it well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you also should do.”

(Usus Antiquior) Holy Thursday, Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (I Classis) – Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Gradual

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Gradual

Philippians 2 : 8-9

Christus factus est pro nobis oboediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.

Response : Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum : et dedit illi Nomen, quod est super omne nomen.

English translation

Christ became obedient for us unto death, even the death on the cross.

Response : Therefore God also had exalted Him, and had given Him a Name which is above every name.

(Usus Antiquior) Holy Thursday, Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (I Classis) – Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Lectio Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios – Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11 : 20-32

Fratres : Convenientibus vobis in unum, jam non est Dominicam cenam manducare, Unusquisque enim suam cenam praesumit ad manducandum. Et alius quidem esurit : alius autem ebrius est. Numquid domos non habetis ad manducandum et bibendum? Aut ecclesiam Dei contemnitis, et confunditis eos, qui non habent? Quid dicam vobis? Laudo vos? In hoc non laudo.

Ego enim accepi a Domino quod et tradidi vobis, quoniam Dominus Jesus, in qua nocte tradebatur, accepit panem, et gratias agens fregit, et dixit : Accipite, et manducate : hoc est Corpus Meum, quod pro vobis tradetur : hoc facite in Meam commemorationem.

Similiter et calicem, postquam cenavit, dicens : Hic calix novum Testamentum est in Meo Sanguine : hoc facite, quotiescumque bibetis, in Meam commemorationem. Quotiescumque enim manducabitis panem hunc et calicem bibetis : mortem Domini annuntiabitis, donec veniat.

Itaque quicumque manducaverit panem hunc vel biberit calicem Domini indigne, reus erit Corporis et Sanguinis Domini. Probet autem seipsum homo : et sic de pane illo edat et de calice bibat. Qui enim manducat et bibit indigne, judicium sibi manducat et bibit : non dijudicans Corpus Domini. Ideo inter vos multi infirmi et imbecilles, et dormiunt multi. Quod si nosmetipsos dijudicaremus, non utique judicaremur. Dum judicamur autem, a Domino corripimur, ut non cum hoc mundo damnemur.

English translation

Brethren, when you come therefore together into one place, it is not now to eat the Lord’s supper. For everyone takes, before, his own supper to eat. And one indeed is hungry and another is drunk. What, do you have no houses to eat or to drink in? Or do you so despise the Church of God and put those to shame, those who does not have? What shall I say to you? Do I praise you? In this I do not praise you.

For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke it and said, “Take all of you and eat. This is My Body, which shall be delivered for you. Do this for the commemoration of Me.”

In like manner He also did to the chalice, after the supper had ended, saying, “This chalice is the New Testament in My Blood. Do this all of you, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me.” For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until He comes.

Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink of the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and the Blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of the chalice. For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Body of the Lord. Therefore there are many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep. But if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But while we are judged, we are chastised by the Lord, that we should not be condemned with this world.

(Usus Antiquior) Holy Thursday, Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (I Classis) – Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Introit

Galatians 6 : 14 and Psalm 66 : 2-4

Nos autem gloriari oportet in Cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi : in quo est salus, vita et resurrectio nostra : per quem salvati et liberati sumus.

Response : Deus misereatur nostri, et benedicat nobis : illuminet vultum suum super nos, et misereatur nostri. Nos autem gloriari oportet in Cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi : in quo est salus, vita et resurrectio nostra : per quem salvati et liberati sumus.

Response : Ut cognoscamus in terra viam Tuam : in omnibus gentibus salutare Tuum. Nos autem gloriari oportet in Cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi : in quo est salus, vita et resurrectio nostra : per quem salvati et liberati sumus.

Response : Confiteantur tibi populi, Deus : confiteantur tibi populi omnes. Nos autem gloriari oportet in Cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi : in quo est salus, vita et resurrectio nostra : per quem salvati et liberati sumus.

English translation

But it behooves us to the glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection, by whom we are saved and delivered.

Response : May God have mercy on us, and bless us. May He cause the light of His countenance to shine upon us, and may He have mercy on us. But it behooves us to the glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection, by whom we are saved and delivered.

Response : That we may know Your way upon the earth, Your salvation among all nations. But it behooves us to the glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection, by whom we are saved and delivered.

Response : Let the peoples praise You, o God. Let the peoples praise You. But it behooves us to the glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection, by whom we are saved and delivered.

Collect

Deus, a quo et Judas reatus sui poenam, et confessionis suae latro praemium sumpsit, concede nobis Tuae propitiationis effectum : ut, sicut in passione sua Jesus Christus, Dominus noster, diversa utriusque intulit stipendia meritorum; ita nobis, ablato vetustatis errore, resurrectionis suae gratiam largiatur. Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, whom Judas received the punishment of his crime, and the thief the reward of his confession, grant us the effect of Your clemency, that as Jesus Christ, our Lord, in His passion dealt according to their deserts with the one and the other, so, putting away from us the error of the past, He may bestow upon us the grace of His resurrection. Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Holy Thursday, Chrism Mass (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this morning we all gather together to celebrate this occasion of the Chrism Mass, when everyone assembled together, the priests of each dioceses in the world, in their respective dioceses, together with their respective shepherds, the bishops of the dioceses, to renew their commitment to the Lord, renewing their priestly vows and promises, and at the same time also celebrating the blessing and the consecration of the holy oils that are crucial for the use in the Church and its liturgical celebrations. On this day, this Chrism Mass, which is usually celebrated traditionally on the morning of the Holy Thursday, but which can be celebrated on other days, we all remember how our priests have dedicated and committed themselves and their lives to God, answering and heeding His call to be His servants, to be the ones to minister to His people.

In our first reading today, we heard from the passage of the Book of the prophet Isaiah in which the prophecy about the coming of God’s salvation that would come through the Saviour, Messiah or Christ, and everything that He would do for the salvation of the world. It was the Lord Jesus in our Gospel passage Who chose this exact same passage given to Him, to proclaim the fulfilment of everything that God has prophesied and promised to all of His people, through none other than Him, as the One Who would save the whole world, all of mankind, from the destruction due to our sins and wickedness, our evils and our infidelities. God has sent His own Beloved Son to our midst so that through Him He might gather us all, and being our High Priest, He might offer for us all, the perfect and most worthy offering and sacrifice for the atonement of our sins.

That is what we are going to celebrate starting this evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Institution of the Sacred Priesthood, that is foreshadowed now in this Chrism Mass. This is also what we are commemorating in this Paschal or Easter Triduum, as we are about to enter into the commemoration of the most important and remarkable events that happened two millennia ago, when Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, gave Himself to be betrayed and rejected, persecuted and oppressed, and condemned to death, so that He might offer on the Altar of His Cross at Calvary, the most perfect offering of His own broken and Most Precious Body, and the outpoured Most Precious Blood that He had given freely to all of us.

All these came to be so that He might free us all from the tyranny of sin and death, breaking forever the chains and the power, the dominion and control that sin has over any one of us. Through His perfect obedience, He has ended the dominion of sin, caused by the disobedience of mankind. He has shown us how to be truly and perfectly obedient to God, our heavenly Father and Master, by taking up His Cross, and willingly took it up all the way to Calvary, where He laid dying, suspended between the Heaven and the earth, bloodied and broken, having offered Himself, as our Eternal and True High Priest, giving to us all the new hope of eternal life, the freedom from the dominion of sin and death.

And He did not do it all alone, as He has called those whom He had called and chosen, to walk in this path, to be His servants, to be priests like Him, in the Order of Melchizedek the High Priest, to be God’s priests and servants forever. He has given the authority and power to all of His priests, those who are serving all of the people of God, namely our Pope, our bishops and priests, with the power to turn the bread and wine at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, to be His own Most Precious Body and Most Precious Blood, being offered freely for us, for our salvation, at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Mass. He has empowered all the priests to celebrate this Eucharist for us, so that all of us may also benefit and witness the same Sacrifice that He has performed at Calvary, for our redemption and salvation.

That is why today, the priests of the whole world renew their commitment to serve the Lord, to be His representatives in this world, to be the ones to celebrate the Sacraments, particularly that of the Holy Eucharist, to bring forth unto us all the same Sacrifice at Calvary, done in their presence ‘in Persona Christi’ during the time of the Consecration of the bread and wine, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, and by the authority given to all of them through the Church and the Apostles, from the Lord Himself, they may turn all the bread and wine, into the very essence and Real Presence of the Lord Himself, into His Most Precious Body and Most Precious Blood, which all of us partake, in one Holy Communion of all the faithful, that we become part of this same One Body of Christ, the Church.

That is why the role of the priests here are very important, as they are the only ones who can do so, and they are the ones given the power and authority to do this, and no one else. Without priests, we will not have the Sacraments to help us in our journey towards God and our salvation in Him. That is why today, as the priests renew their commitment to the Lord, let us all also pray for them and give them more of our support, strength and help, so that in whatever challenges and responsibilities that they are carrying, they can continue to shoulder them faithfully and courageously, doing whatever they can to serve the Lord to the best of their abilities, at all times and circumstances.

Today we also mark the occasion of the blessing of the holy oils, the Oil of the Catechumens used to mark the catechumens seeking for baptism and reception into the Church, the Oil of the Sick used in the Sacrament of the Sick and for the ministry to the ones who are suffering from illness and in the danger of death, and lastly the Sacred or Holy Chrism used in various purposes in the Church and its various liturgies, from the baptism and confirmation liturgies, for those who are baptised and confirmed in the faith, in the Ordination of those called to the Holy Orders, and in the Consecration and Dedication of churches and altars, to mark as sacred, holy and worthy all those that had been set aside for Divine worship and purpose. Like the kings of old had been consecrated to God with the pouring and anointing with the holy oils, thus, each and every one of us have received the holy oils at different stages and parts of our Christian living as well, as part of our mission and calling in life.

Yes, these holy oils have been blessed today so that we can also remember what the Lord had called us to do with our lives, in the respective missions that have been entrusted to us. While primarily we focus our attention today to those who have given their lives and dedicated themselves to the ministry of sacred priesthood, but we should also remember that each and every one of us in our respective parts and areas of life also have specific calling, ministries and vocations to do, and we have been called and reminded to follow them faithfully, and to do whatever we can so that our lives and vocations may be carried out well and faithfully, and by our lives and actions, we may truly glorify God and lead even more people ever closer to God and His salvation.

All of us must always be active members and parts of the Church, as the priests alone cannot do everything on their own. Instead, each and every parts and members of the Church must actively contribute in whatever way they can, so that through their actions and contributions, each and every one of them may assemble their efforts together and bring about lots of good deeds and actions that will help so many in their journey towards the Lord. Let us all therefore also commit ourselves anew on this occasion, together with all the priests who have renewed their priestly vows and promises this day, that each and every one of us will also continue to commit ourselves to live our lives worthily in the manner that the Lord has shown us through His Church. May the Lord be with us all, and bless particularly all of our priests, in everything that they all do, for His greater glory. Amen.

Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Holy Thursday, Chrism Mass (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 4 : 16-21

At that time, when Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, as He usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed Him the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Jesus then unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written : “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. He has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed and to announce the Lord’s year of mercy.”

Jesus then rolled up the scroll, gave it to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. Then He said to them, “Today these prophetic words come true, even as you listen.”

Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Holy Thursday, Chrism Mass (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Revelations 1 : 5-8

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him Who loves us and has washed away our sins with His own Blood, making us a kingdom and priests for God His Father, to Him be the glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

See He comes with the clouds and everyone will see Him, even those who pierced Him; on His account all the nations of the earth will beat his breast. Yes. It will be so. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, He Who is, Who was and Who is to come : the Master of the universe.

Thursday, 28 March 2024 : Holy Thursday, Chrism Mass (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 88 : 21-22, 25 and 27

I have found David my servant, and with My holy oil I have anointed him. My hand will be ever with him and My arm will sustain him.

My faithfulness and love will be with him, and by My help he will be strong. He will call on Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, my Rock, my Saviour.’