Introduction to the Liturgy – The Passion – The liturgy of the word for Palm Sunday, with the reading of the passion, is considerably longer than on the ordinary Sunday. The accounts of Jesus’ final two days are the longest continuous narratives to be found in the gospels. Luke’s use of Mark’s gospel in much of the passion narrative is evident. As is true of the other gospels, Luke’s narrative must be read as part of his gospel as a whole.

From the Saints – St. Andrew of Crete, Bishop – “So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him. We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away inn the saving waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool, let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of his victory. Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children’s holy song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.” (Sermon, Matins – Palm Sunday)

In your prayers kindly remember the sick and those who care for them, the lonely, the handicapped, those isolated, and those who have died, especially Kurt Schori, Francisco Bantay Jr.

HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY WEEK

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In your kindness, please remember St. Columbkille’s Cathedral Parish in your bequests and wills

Chrism Mass at St. Columbkille Cathedral – The Chrism Mass will be held at St. Columbkille Cathedral on Tuesday, April 12^th at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception at Cathedral Hall. All are welcome.

Stations of the Cross – Stations of the Cross will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Good Friday.  

Latin Mass in Brudenell – Beginning on April 10, 2022, the Latin Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962 will be celebrated every Sunday at 4 p.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Church in Brudenell.   If you require any further information, please contact Father Mitchell Beachey at 613 584-3305

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION – If you would like to make it to confession before Easter, there will be confessions available at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Wednesday April 13^th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm, and from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Several priests will be available to hear confessions during those times. Confessions are also heard before every Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Chrism Oils – The Church makes use of three holy oils: the oil of the sick, the oil of the catechumens and the holy chrism oil. The first two are blessed, and the bishop consecrates the third, ordinarily during the annual Chrism Mass. Each has a distinctive purpose in the Church. Read more at: https://www.simplycatholic.com/what-are-holy-oils/

Mass of the Lord’s Supper – With this Mass, celebrated in the evening of the Thursday in Holy Week, the Church begins the sacred Easter Triduum and devotes herself to the remembrance of the Last Supper. At the super on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus, loving those who were his own in the world even to the end, offered his Body and Blood to the Father under the appearance of bread and wine, gave them to the apostles to eat and drink, then enjoined the apostles and their successors in the priesthood to offer them in turn.
This Mass is, first of all, the memorial of the institution of the eucharist, that is, of the Memorial of the Lord’s Passover, by which under sacramental signs he perpetuated among us the sacrifice of the New Law. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is also the memorial of the institution of the priesthood, by which Christ’s mission and sacrifice are perpetuated in the world. In addition, this Mass is the memorial of that love by which the Lord loved us even to death.  (Ceremonial of Bishops # 297)

Fasting on Good Friday – A reminder that Good Friday is required day of fasting and abstinence. Catholics over the age of 14 are expected to abstain from the eating of meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays throughout the Lenten Season. those ages 18 – 59 must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On such days, those fasting may eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals, sufficient to maintain strength. However, together, the smaller meals should not equal a full meal. As usual, there are exceptions for those who are frail, pregnant, etc.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56337/fasting-and-abstinence-during-lent

Significance of Good Friday – “‘It is finished’; and he bowed his head and handed over his spirit.”

On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Good Friday, in the Adoration of the Cross, in the chanting of the ‘Reproaches’, in the reading of the Passion, and in receiving the pre-consecrated Host, we unite ourselves to our Savior, and we contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord.

The Church – stripped of its ornaments, the altar bare, and with the door of the empty tabernacle standing open – is as if in mourning. In the fourth century the Apostolic Constitutions described this day as a ‘day of mourning, not a day of festive joy,’ and this day was called the ‘Pasch (passage) of the Crucifixion.’

The liturgical observance of this day of Christ’s suffering, crucifixion and death evidently has been in existence from the earliest days of the Church. No Mass is celebrated on this day, but the service of Good Friday is called the Mass of the Presanctified because Communion (in the species of bread) which had already been consecrated on Holy Thursday is given to the people.

Traditionally, the organ is silent from Holy Thursday until the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil, as are all bells or other instruments, the only music during this period being unaccompanied chant. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56093/the-significance-of-good-friday