Holy Thursday witnesses two of the most beautiful
Masses of our Tradition: the Chrism Mass in the morning,
and the Mass of the Last Supper in the evening. The
Season of Lent ends with the celebration of the Chrism
Mass while the Easter Triduum begins with the Mass of the
Last Supper during the evening of Holy Thursday.
The Chrism Mass takes place at the Cathedral. The
Bishop, together with all his priests, concelebrates as a
sign of unity and communion. At this Mass the priests
renew their vows, and the Sacred Oils to be used
throughout the diocese are consecrated. The oils are the oil
of the infirm used in Anointing of the Sick, the oil of
catechumens used at Baptism, and the Sacred Chrism,
used both at Confirmation and at Ordination. Large vats of
each of these oils are consecrated and then the oils are
distributed among the parishes of the diocese. Thus,
throughout the diocese it is always the same oil that is
used, be it for Anointing, Baptism, Confirmation or
Ordination.
The Mass of the Last Supper is on the evening of Holy
Thursday. The Tabernacle is empty at the beginning of
Mass, and will remain so until the Easter Vigil. It is at this
Mass that the priest washes the feet of twelve men in
imitation of our Lord washing the feet of the Apostles.
Enough Hosts are consecrated to serve for Communion on
Good Friday when Mass is not celebrated. The Mass itself
concludes with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament
throughout the Church. It is a very moving experience to
see all the altar boys in cassock and surplice preceding
Our Lord in the most Blessed Sacrament. The Sacrament
is taken to an altar of repose where there may be adoration
until Midnight, at which time the Sacrament is closed to
view until the Easter Vigil when it is returned to the
Tabernacle.
The open doors of the empty Tabernacle lend an air of
desolation to the Church during Good Friday and Holy
Saturday. The Holy Water fonts are empty as well, until
after the Blessing of the Easter Water at the Easter Vigil.
This should drive home to us how empty our lives would be
without Christ.
All is made new, however, at the Easter Vigil when the
procession of the Pascal Candle into the Church literally
restores the Light of Christ to a people in darkness.