The Easter Tridium

Last night our Parish Church was quite full with those attending the evening Mass of Holy Thursday.

It is heartening to see so many folk come out in such numbers when there is no compunction.

The Holy Thursday Mass is an important one. It commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood, all of which happened at the Last Supper 2000 years ago.

Father was very strong in his sermon about the dwindling number of priests, and and urged us to pray for vocations. He urged parents in families to nurture vocations by showing respect to the Church and to the priesthood.

At 10pm, a small group returned for the Evening Prayer of the Church.

This morning, a good number were at morning Prayer of the Church, and in the afternoon, the Church was packed for the Good Friday Commemoration of the Crucifixion.

I have only one complaint. Last night, and again this afternoon, people did not leave the Church in silence. Many talked and chatted. All ages seem to have lost the sense of awe in Church. Silence is the exception now rather than the norm.

It seems we have become too familiar with Jesus. My feeling is that Communion in the hand has contributed to this. Last week at the school mass, I had to stop a Primary 5 girl who was walking back to her seat with the Host in her hand.

A couple of weeks ago, a communicant picked up a host that had been dropped and handed it to the priest. Today, Father dropped some hosts. He simply picked them up and consumed them. Once upon a time such an accident would have been treated differently, with careful cleaning.

I am left wondering if I am being too scrupulous? What if there were particles of Host on the carpet unseen? Is it, or is it not the Body and Blood of Jesus? Does it cease to be so once dropped? Is this something that should not trouble me, or is it?

Tomorrow, morning prayer at 10 am, then the Easter Vigil at 8.30pm.

We wait.

Photos were taken at a Una Voce Mass at the ruins of Cambuskenneth Abbey near Stirling, which is the burial place of King James III of Scotland, and his wife, Margaret of Denmark.