COVID-19: Decree regarding the
celebration of the Easter Triduum
 |
| Easter Mass in St Peter's Square, 21 April 2019 (Vatican Media) |
The Congregation for Divine Worship releases a Decree dated
25 March, updating “the general indications and suggestions already given to
Bishops” in a previous decree from 19 March.
By Vatican News
A Decree entitled “In
time of Covid-19” (II), has been issued by the Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on Wednesday, 25 March 2020. The
new document updates an earlier decree, dated 19 March 2020. It contains
responses to questions it has received regarding the celebration of the Easter
liturgy. Both Decrees are issued “by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff, for the
year 2020 only”.
Date Easter is celebrated
Since the Solemnity of Easter cannot be transferred, the
Decree states that, “in the countries which have been struck by the disease and
where restrictions around the assembly and movement of people have been
imposed, Bishops and priests may celebrate the rites of Holy Week without the
presence of the people and in a suitable place, avoiding concelebration and
omitting the sign of peace”.
Participation of the faithful
The Decree encourages pastors to inform the faithful of the
times of the liturgical celebrations, “so that they can prayerfully unite
themselves in their homes” to the prayer of the Church. In this regard, the
Decree continues, the “means of live (not recorded) telematic broadcasts can be
of help”. It then emphasizes how important it is to dedicate “adequate time for
prayer”. The Liturgy of the Hours, it noted, is especially important.
Palm Sunday
Holy Week begins with the celebration of Palm Sunday. “The
Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem is to be celebrated within
sacred buildings”, the Decree says. When celebrated in Cathedral churches, it
specifies the second form from the Roman Missal is to be used, and the third
form when it takes place in parish churches.
The Chrism Mass
The latest Decree says that the Episcopal Conferences “will
be able to give indications about a possible transfer to another date" for
the Chrism Mass. It is generally celebrated in every diocese on Holy Thursday,
or on another day of Holy Week.
Holy Thursday
On Holy Thursday, the “washing of the feet, which is already
optional, is to be omitted” the Decree says. The customary procession at the
conclusion of the Mass, when the Blessed Sacrament is taken to the Altar of
Repose, is to likewise omitted. The Blessed Sacrament is to be reposed in the
tabernacle.
The Decree grants special permission to all priests to
celebrate Mass “in a suitable place, without the presence of the people”.
Good Friday
Wherever the celebration of the Passion of the Lord takes
place, the Decree directs Bishops to “arrange to have a special intention
prepared for those who find themselves in distress, the sick, the dead”. The
decree also indicates that “the adoration of the Cross by kissing it shall be
limited solely to the celebrant”.
Easter
The Easter Vigil “is to be celebrated only in Cathedral and
parish churches”, the Decree states. The updated Decree clarifies that “in the
‘Baptismal Liturgy’, only the ‘Renewal of Baptismal Promises’ is to be
maintained”.
Further determinations
Wednesday’s Decree notes that “seminaries, houses of clergy,
monasteries, and religious communities shall follow the indications of this
decree.”
It also indicates that, unlike the official liturgical
celebrations, “expressions of popular piety and processions which enrich the
days of Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum can be transferred to other suitable
days in the year”. An example given is 14 and 15 September (the Feast of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows). Determinations
about the transfer of such devotions is left to the judgment of the Diocesan
Bishop.
Indications were also sent out via a separate
communication for the the Pascal Celebrations in the Eastern Catholic Churches.
These indications were signed by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the
Congregation for Oriental Churches, and by the Under-secretary Fr. Flavio Pace.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét