Cardinal O'Malley celebrates Mass of the Lord's Supper at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Because of the lack of the congregation, the celebration of Holy Thursday was simpler than usual this year. For example, there was no Washing of the Feet or procession to the altar of repose. Pilot photo/Gregory L. Tracy
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Palm Sunday was, of course, the beginning of Holy Week, and this year was certainly a unique event, celebrated as it was in an empty Cathedral of the Holy Cross. It was particularly striking because Palm Sunday is a day when there are usually very large crowds with us for Mass.
First, I celebrated Mass in English, and then I celebrated Mass in Spanish with Father Pablo Gomis in the Cathedral's Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Of course, we were very conscious of the fact that so many people would have liked to have been present that day, but we were offering the Masses especially for them, their families, and particularly for the many people who have fallen ill from the coronavirus. As I mentioned last week, among those afflicted with the virus are six priests of the archdiocese, and I would ask everyone to keep them in their prayers.
Chrism Mass
One of the strangest aspects of Holy Week this year for me is the lack of a Chrism Mass. The Chrism Mass is traditionally held on Holy Thursday. However, in recent years, the Holy See has permitted for it to be moved to another day of the week when more priests can be present. Here in Boston, we have a tradition of celebrating it on Tuesday of Holy Week.
The presence of the priests at that Mass is so important because, together, we bless the oils that will be used for the administration of the sacraments -- baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, and holy orders. It is also a time when the priests renew their promises of ordination.
So, this year, instead of just moving it earlier in the week, we will move it to the summer when, hopefully, we will be able to gather the priests together at the cathedral for the renewal of their promises.
Holy Thursday
On Holy Thursday, we began our celebrations of the Triduum with the Mass of the Lord's Supper at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
Because of the lack of the congregation, the celebration was simpler than usual this year. For example, there was no Washing of the Feet or procession to the altar of repose. Instead, there was an abbreviated time of adoration at the altar of the cathedral.
Also, we would have traditionally had a full chapel for the Eucharistic vigil until midnight. Normally, many of those who attend the vigil are students from the Boston University Catholic Center. Since we were unable to gather in person, I was pleased that we could meet virtually that night.
This Mass was to have begun our celebration of the year of the Eucharist in the Archdiocese of Boston, but that has now been delayed until the feast of Corpus Christi in June. Like so many other things, we hope that by that time it will be possible for our people to gather with us for that very special event.
Good Friday
Our Good Friday observance also was different in many ways this year. Normally, during the day, we have the Way of the Cross For Life and the Stations of the Cross of Communion and Liberation visit the cathedral, as well as the Living Stations of the Cross done by the Hispanic community of the cathedral. Then, in the afternoon, we would have the full celebration in English and then the liturgical celebration in the evening in Spanish.
This year, we had only the English celebration at 3 p.m., with the solemn proclamation of the Passion, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Communion service.