The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem returned on Holy Thursday to offer the Mass of the Lord's Supper after being denied access to the church four days earlier by Israeli police
The glory of the Son of God was obscured and eclipsed by the ignominies He endured during His Passion. He who but a few days ago was proclaimed king by Jerusalem, is now robbed of His honors.
After a decade-long break under Francis, Pope Leo will preside over the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the traditional foot-washing rite in Rome’s cathedral church.
Let us implore the Blessed Virgin, that we may truly be friends of Christ, doing as He commands. By staying awake and praying during the agony of His Church.
Holy Week is the perfect time to ponder worthy reception of the Eucharist and Canon 915, which prohibits Communion for those in ‘manifest grave sin,’ like abortion supporters.
Catholics have special opportunities to obtain the great grace of a plenary indulgence – the remission of all temporal punishment for sin – in Holy Week, as well as on Divine Mercy Sunday.
Pope Francis again washed and kissed the feet of women in the Holy Thursday liturgy, though this year is believed to be the first time that the 12 people in the ceremony were all women.
‘I never came into contact with the traditional Mass – at least not until Traditiones custodes,’ Fr. Joachim Heimerl writes. ‘I began to study it intensively, learned the rites and the Latin prayers, and discovered a huge treasure.’