RCIA Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery 1 Session 21: - PDF document

10/23/2019 RCIA Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery 1 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Introduction • Holy Week is the heart of the Church year • Makes present again Jesus’ passing from life to death to new life 2 2 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Palm Sunday • Passion Sunday due to gospel reading • Palms blessed outside church – Remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem 3 3 1

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Preparation Days • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday • Traditionally a time to go to Confession 4 4 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Holy Thursday • Mass of the Last Supper • Institution of the Holy Eucharist • Liturgy takes place in the evening only • Washing of the feet • Consecrated hosts taken to adoration chapel 5 5 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Good Friday • Anniversary of the death of Jesus • Theme: quiet sadness & mourning • No Mass but… – Scripture – veneration of the cross – reception of Eucharist from HT Hosts Christ on the Cross (c.1630) by Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez 6 6 2

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Holy Saturday • Early hours: time of quiet and fasting • No liturgy • Atmosphere of anticipation • RCIA: Mini-retreat of fasting and prayer 7 7 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Easter Vigil • Primary celebration of the Resurrection • Public baptism of adults and reception of other Sacraments of Initiation • Church decorated; oil, incense, water, and fire • Parts – Service of light and procession – Lengthy Liturgy of the Word – Sacraments of Initiation – Liturgy of the Eucharist 8 8 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Easter • Continues triumphant joy of Vigil • Jesus is raised and is Lord! • Believers who are baptized share in the resurrection to new life • Fulfilled Passover – Exodus from slavery to spiritual freedom 9 9 3

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Chrism Mass Why is This Mass Special? • All priests from the diocese renew promise of obedience to their bishop – Opportunity to be encouraged by bishop – Opporutnity to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate Mass together. 10 10 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Chrism Mass Why is This Mass Special? (cont.) • Holy oils blessed, consecrated – Oil of the Sick (used in Anointing of the Sick) – Oil of Catechumens (Baptism) – Oil of Chrism (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders) 11 11 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery Introduction • Pasch : Passover – God “passed over” the Israelite homes sparing their first born • Mystery: known by revelation but beyond our full understanding The Lamb of God (between 1635 and 1640) by Francisco de Zurbarán 12 12 4

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery Introduction (cont.) • Paschal Mystery – New Passover – Liberation of all humanity from the slavery of sin by the Son of God – Celebrated at every Mass 13 13 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery Introduction (cont.) • Paschal Mystery (cont.) – Saving events of Christ’s • Passion • Death • Burial • Descent to the dead • Resurrection • Ascension Altarpiece of the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, Church of the monastery of Santa Maria de Lluçà (Osona) commissioned in 1341 from the workshop of the 14 sculptor Bernat Saulet 14 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery Sin • Original sin broke relationship between God and humans – Ejected from Garden of Eden – Preternatural gifts surrendered – Supernatural life ended – Life on earth to be burdensome, sorrowful – Friendship with God withdrawn – Death inevitable with uncertain after-life Detail from The Fall (after 1479) by Hugo van der Goes 15 15 5

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery The Father • “God is love” (1 John 4:8) • God would not cease to love and care for us • God would salvage us – Sent His Son to restore humans to sonship (Galatians 4:5) 16 16 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery Christ Jesus • His life was an offering of Himself to His Father in atonement for sin and to reconcile us to the Father • Eucharist: memorial of His life of sacrifice • Passion was the reason for the Incarnation 17 17 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery Christ Jesus (cont.) • Sin was the real cause of His suffering & death – We all contributed • Resurrection – Proof that the Redeemer was God • Ascension – Jesus’ glorified body resides in Heaven at the right hand of the Father 18 18 6

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery Christ Jesus (cont.) • Paschal mystery is clear evidence of the… – tragedy of sin – infinite goodness of a loving God – willing obedience of a Son 19 19 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery The Paschal Mystery Christ Jesus (cont.) • Paschal mystery gives us promise of… – forgiveness of sins – resurrection in glory of soul and body – eternity of great joy 20 20 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Introduction • Reception of Sacraments of Initiation gives us ability to more deeply understand the meaning and mysteries of what God has revealed in the Bible – Personal, firsthand experience – Flooding with grace 21 21 7

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Some Bible Basics • The NT is hidden in the OT and the OT is revealed in the NT • Type: OT events foreshadowing NT events 22 22 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Types (Prefigurements) of Baptism • Noah (Genesis 6:1-9:17) – Waters of flood washed away wickedness – Beginning of a new creation • Old, sinful self put to death, new self of grace now lives 23 23 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Types (Prefigurements) of Baptism • Circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14) – Sign of God’s covenant – Baptism: incorporation into Christian community 24 24 8

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Types (Prefigurements) of Baptism • Crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) – Israelites escaped the slavery of the Egyptians – We escape bondage to sin and to the power of Satan 25 25 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Types (Prefigurements) of Baptism • Crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 3-4) – Israelites enter the Promised Land – We cross over into the hope of eternal life through the outpouring of the Spirit 26 26 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Types (Prefigurements) of Baptism • Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan (Matthew 3:15) – Holy Spirit descended on Jesus – Holy Spirit descends on us and dwells within The Baptism of Christ (c. 1450) 27 by Piero della Francesca 27 9

10/23/2019 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Types (Prefigurements) of Confirmation • Anointing with oil – Dedicated a person to God – Oil symbolized the Spirit of God David’s Anointing (contemporary) 28 by Albert Chew 28 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Types (Prefigurements) of Confirmation • Priests, prophets, kings set apart for God • Special spiritual power and gifts • Set aside for particular work in God’s service 29 29 Session 21: Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery Typology: The Sacraments of Initiation and the Bible Types (Prefigurements) of Confirmation • Confirmation – Perfects gift of grace received in Baptism – Strengthens the soul – Enables powerful public witness • In words, deeds, and the conduct of our lives – Help to overcome all obstacles to our salvation – Strengthened to endure suffering and persecution for Christ 30 30 10