Chrism Mass, Last Supper and washing of the feet of prisoners: reinvigorated in health, Pope Francis led the celebrations of Holy Thursday

A Pope who he looked healthier who on Sunday, interrupting his homily with a long silence, which he did not let a collaborator read, asked the priests to free themselves from selfishness and ambitions at the Holy Thursday mass which recalls the institution of the priestly sacraments during the Last Supper of the passion and death of Jesus.

From this Thursday until Sunday, Holy Week enters its climax in the so-called Easter Triduum. The commemoration of the sacrament of priests, in which Christ offered “eat this bread which is my body, drink this wine which is my blood”, practically implies the birth of the ecclesiastical institution.

The Easter Triduum, step by step

The Easter Triduum began with the Last Supper, reaches its most dramatic moment on Friday with the death of Christ on the cross and ends on Sunday with the resurrection of the Son of God.

This Thursday the ceremonies began in St. Peter’s Basilica with the blessing of the sacred oils which are used during the even year for baptisms, confirmations and anointing of the sick, which They will be used in Vatican celebrations

The Pope has read a long message to the priests and he did it without difficulty, appearing in good physical shape. He reflected on the need for members of the Church to show compunction and tears in their behavior, to “feel more brothers towards all the sinners of the world”, without a hint of superiority “but with the desire to love and make amends. “

Francis asked the priests to show solidarity “for a docile heart, freed by the spirit of the Beatitudes, and inclined to compunction for the rest, instead of getting angry or shocked For the evil that the brothers commit, weep for their sins.”

“The Lord does not ask us to pass derogatory judgments on those who do not believe, but love and tears for those who are far away”, added the Pope.

Bergoglio told the Church’s half million Catholic priests that “the difficult situations we see and experience, the lack of faith, the suffering we touch when we come into contact with a broken heart, do not arouse determination in controversy, but perseverance.” in mercy.”

The Argentine Pope thanked the priests of the Church “for their open and docile hearts (…) Thank you for your efforts and your tears and for bringing the wonder of God’s mercy to the brothers and sisters of our time”.

Francis indicated that “we need to free ourselves from resistance and recriminations, from selfishness and ambitions to entrust ourselves and intercede before God, finding in Him a peace that saves from every storm”.

The day ended the women’s section of the Roman prison of Rebibbiato celebrate the mass of the “Lord’s Supper” on Holy Thursday, and after it The Pope washed the feet of 12 prisoners, as Jesus did with the apostles during the Last Supper.

Something new for Good Friday

Good Friday will have a particular novelty. The Pope will preside over the Way of the cross at the Roman Colosseum, which he was unable to attend last year due to the cold. The tradition of the comments of each station of Calvary of the Son of God is for the first time in memory, the result of the inspiration of Francis himselfwho wrote them.

Holy Saturday, the Pope will officiate at the Easter Vigil and Sunday, in Plaza de San Pedo, will officiate the Mass of Resurrection in front of a crowd. He will also pronounce the Urbi et Orbi blessing, to the city of Rome and the entire world, which will conclude Holy Week 2024.