Archdiocese of Manila lines up Lenten rites
MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will usher the observance of the Holy Week by officiating the Palm Sunday mass today at the San Fernando de Dilao Parish in Paco, Manila.
The Cardinal is set to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at 7 a.m. today, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila said on its website.
After the mass, Tagle will bless the palm leaves being carried and waved by the faithful as part of the Catholic tradition.
Palm Sunday recalls the time of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. People welcomed Him by laying down their clothes and small tree branches in His path.
It also marks the start of Holy Week, which will culminate in the celebration of Easter Sunday next week.
The Manila Archdiocese said that the faithful should expect images of saints, Jesus and Mary covered in shrouds as dictated by the Church’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
In a circular, Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission Director Fr. Genaro Diwa of the Manila Archdiocese said that the covering of images must be done on the Fifth Sunday of Lent or the week before Palm Sunday.
“If the altar cross will not be the cross to be used for the Good Friday Veneration of the Cross, it should be covered. In that case, the processional cross must be placed beside the altar,” Diwa explained.
On Maundy Thursday, Tagle will lead the Chrism Mass at 7 a.m. and the Lord’s Supper Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m.
During the Lord’s Supper mass, Diwa said that the tabernacle should be completely empty before the Mass with hosts for the communion of the faithful to be consecrated.
He also added that the Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a closed tabernacle and that under no circumstances may it be exposed in a monstrance.
“The place where the tabernacle is situated must not be made to resemble a tomb, and the expression tomb is to be avoided: for the chapel of repose is not prepared so as to represent the Lord’s burial but for the custody of the Eucharistic bread that will be distributed in communion on Good Friday,” Diwa narrated.
Tagle will also lead the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, including the Veneration of the Cross, on Good Friday.
“Only one cross should be used for the veneration, as this contributes to the full symbolism of the rite,” Diwa stressed.
On Black Saturday, the CBCP official said that with prayer and fasting, the faithful is expected to meditate on Christ’s passion and death while waiting for His resurrection.
He added that an image of Christ lying and an image of the sorrowful Virgin Mary can be placed in the church for the veneration of the faithful.
Tagle will also lead the Easter Vigil in the Archdiocese of Manila, which will start at around 8 p.m. on Saturday.
“The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. It should not begin before nightfall; it should end before daybreak on Sunday,” Diwa said.
The traditional Salubong follows at 11 p.m., wherein the images of a risen Christ and His mother, Mary, will be paraded in separate processions and will be brought together in the parish.