Saturday, March 1, 2008

Triduum at S. Clement's

Maundy Thursday
7pm High Mass, Procession to the Altar of Repose, Stripping of the Altars, and the Maundy

Good Friday
7am Said Tenebrae
12noon Mass of the Pre-Sanctified and Veneration of the Relic of the True Cross

Easter Even
7am Said Tenebrae
4pm Easter Vigil and First High Mass of Easter

Easter Day
8am Low Mass
11am Procession and High Mass
No Solemn Vespers and Benediction

A couple of editorial comments: that is the earliest Easter Vigil I have ever heard of (except for when it was held the morning of Holy Saturday, but given that S. Clement's seems to adhere to the rubrics as they existed in 1958, that would predate even their practice). Also, Easter seems like an odd day to skip Solemn Vespers and Benediction. Perhaps the clergy are simply too exhausted to keep awake for an hour (sound familiar?) but one would think that, perhaps, a spiky-minded cleric (perhaps a deacon?) from a parish with a less rigorous Holy Week schedule could be borrowed. In any case, though, it looks on balance like the clergy and people of S. Clement's have a commendable plan for the Great Three Days.

1 comment:

Paul Goings said...

It should also be noted that, in addition to the principal liturgies listed above, all of the other hours of the Divine Office will also be recited in common.

I would agree that it is regrettable that Solemn Vespers is omitted on Easter Day. However, this has more to do with the general exhaustion (and physical distance from home) of the servers than anything else. Even so, it is anticipated that the situation will not continue for too much longer.

As to the early hour of the Easter Vigil, quite simply, we would much prefer to have the times that were common from c. 800 until 1955. However, this is not logistically possible in terms of most people working on Maundy Thursday, etc. So, this is very much a compromise time. In fact, though, it is the rubrically "correct" time as well, as the missal says that the ceremonies begin after None. So, ideally, all three services would take place at three in the afternoon, with the other hours and devotions arranged around these principal liturgies.