priest

Dear Brothers and Sisters, At this Holy Mass our thoughts go back to that moment when, through prayer and the laying on of hands, the bishop made us sharers in the priesthood of Jesus Christ, so that we might be “consecrated in truth” (Jn 17:19), as Jesus besought the Father for us in his high-priestly prayer. He himself is the truth. He has consecrated us, that is to say, handed us over to God for ever, so that we can offer men and women a service that comes from God and leads to him. But does our consecration extend to the daily reality of our lives – do we operate as men of God in fellowship with Jesus Christ? This question places the Lord before us and us before him. “Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him, denying yourselves and confirming those promises about sacred duties towards Christ’s Church which, prompted by love of him, you willingly and joyfully pledged on the day of your priestly ordination?” After this homily, I sha...

HOW DOES THE CHURCH CELEBRATE HOLY THURSDAY? On Holy Thursday the Catholic Church remembers the first Mass ever celebrated: the Last Supper. With it begins Easter Triduum, three days that celebrate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. In the morning Chrism Mass is celebrated and it's usually presided over in a cathedral by the bishop of each diocese. It's called Chrism because of the oils that are blessed and used throughout the year in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick. On the evening of Holy Thursday, the Eucharist and priesthood are both celebrated. In this ceremony, a priest washes the feet of several people in remembrance of the act performed by Jesus with the 12 apostles. After this Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a prepared location for the day called 'monument'. In some countries there is a tradition of making turns praying all night to be by the side of Jesus on the eve of his death. ...