Archbishop Michael Byrnes will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass at 6 tonight, Wednesday, March 31 at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica as the Catholic Church observes Holy Week. He will be joined by numerous concelebrating priests of the Archdiocese of Agaña.
The Mass will be livestreamed on the Cathedral-Basilica’s website at aganacathedral.org as well at the aganacathedral Facebook and YouTube sites.
The Chrism Mass is celebrated once a year during Holy Week in Catholic dioceses worldwide. Priests, deacons and representatives of the diocesan communities gather in unity with their bishop for the blessing of the Holy Oils which will be used sacramentally and during anointings throughout the parishes.
The Chrism Mass is also a time of renewal. Before their bishop, the clergy renew the sacred promises that they made during their ordination. The entire congregation of faithful are also called to renew their baptismal promises.
The Holy Oils known as the Oil of the Sick, Oil of Catechumens and Holy Chrism are used during such occasions as baptisms, Anointing of the Sick, Confirmation, ordinations of bishops and priests and dedications of altars and churches.
Parishes will commemorate the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday with evening Masses followed by Good Friday services such as the Stations of the Cross, recitation of the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross. The Easter Triduum continues with the celebration of Easter Vigil Masses on Saturday and the glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
The following is from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops’ website at https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/triduum
EASTER TRIDUUM
The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum — from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.
The liturgical services that take place during the Triduum are:
- Mass of the Lord’s Supper
- Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
- Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
For more information, visit https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/triduum
(Archdiocese Release)
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