The Tribune

By Rev Canon S

Sebastian Campbell

FOR the last week of Lent and the week before Easter, in which the events in the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry are remembered, the Prayer Book provides special services for readings. The week begins with Passion Sunday, traditionally called Palm Sunday, with its blessing of palms and procession, followed by a reading of the passion narrative from one of the synoptic Gospels.

The Book of Occasional Services (73-90) contains the service of Tenebrae for use on the Wednesday evening before Easter as a focused meditation in preparation for the remembrance of Christ’s passion.

This powerful service takes its name from the Latin word for response. Gradually the lights and candles used to decorate the church are extinguished so that all is in darkness. A loud noise is made, recalling the earthquake at the time of the crucifixion. A single candle is lit to aid the departure of the congregation. On Thursday, called Maundy Thursday, the church remembers Christ’s institution of the Eucharist (BCP, 274-75) and in some places observes the ceremony of the washing of feet in remembrance of Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples. The name Maundy may be a shortened form of the word commandment in its early spelling of “commaundement”. The Gospel associated with this day is of Jesus’ saying to his disciples: “I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.”

Maundy may also be a shortened form of the Latin words for “new commandment” – mandatum novum. Some places observe the time between noon and 3pm on Good Friday with a three-hour preaching service. The Prayer Book provides a rite with extensive intercessory prayer and anthems (BCP, 276-82) and makes provision for the traditional veneration of the cross. When this is done with a full-sized cross, which members of the congregation take turns holding, it can be very powerful indeed.

There is no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday or Holy Saturday. The whole week’s liturgical activities lead to the Great Vigil of Easter (BCP, 285-95), with its lighting of the new fire and Paschal candle, reading of the salvation history, chanting of the Exsultet, baptisms and confirmations, if the bishop is present, as well as the first Eucharist of Easter. This is of course followed by the Eucharists of Easter Day itself. The week can also be enhanced by use of the Way of the Cross service, also known as the Stations of the Cross (BOS, 55-71), which may also be used on the Fridays of Lent. Holy Week is the central week of the whole liturgical year.