Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Hosanna to the Son of David: “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.”

Today commemorates our Divine Savior’s entrance into the Holy City of Jerusalem and His accomplishment of our Heavenly Father’s plan for our salvation.   These days of Holy Week are an intense re-presentation of Christ’s saving work.  By prayer and ritual we are invited to participate intimately in the week of redemption. 

    On Palm/Passion Sunday, Mother Church places branches in our hands, blessed palms, that we might honor Our Lord and King and pledge loyalty and faithfulness to Him.

    On Holy Tuesday, Bishop Bambera summons his priests to join him in the consecration of the three new sacred oils: Catechumen for Baptism, Chrism for Confirmation and Holy Orders and Baptism, and Infirm for the sick and dying.  The Chrism Mass is celebrated at 4 PM in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Scranton and the Faithful are encouraged to participate and pledge their support for their priests who at that time renew their priestly vows.

    The Passion of Our Lord dominates these High Holy Days.  They are known as the Sacred Triduum (Three Days).  We begin with Morning Prayer (Lauds) on Holy Thursday morning at 7:25 AM in St. Mary Magdalen Church.  Holy Thursday evening, 7 PM in St John’s Church we commemorate The Lord’s Last Supper wherein He institutes the Holy Eucharist (the First Mass) and the Holy Priesthood; and the Mandatum (the New Commandment): “To love one another as He loves us.”

     Good Friday begins with Morning Prayer at 7:25 AM (SMM).  The Way of the Cross at 9 AM (SMM) followed by the blessing with the True Cross on which Our Savior died.

      The principal celebration of the day begins at Noon in St. John’s as we commemorate the Lord’s Passion.  There we stand in heart and mind at Calvary being cleansed in the Blood of the Lamb.

    At 3 PM we begin the Novenas and Chaplet of Divine Mercy which culminates on the Octave of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.

    Good Friday evening, at 7 PM in St. John’s chant in Latin, Hebrew and English the most ancient and hauntingly beautiful dirges of the burial of Christ, the Office of Tenebrae.

    On Holy Saturday we prayerfully prepare for the great and glorious Vigil of Easter.  Morning prayer again at St Mary Magdalen at 7:25 AM: Blessing of Easter foods at 11 AM (SMM) courtyard.  And the Vigil at St. John’s beginning at 8 PM.  We have the joy of welcoming two new parishioners, Susan and Brendon who through Confirmation and Holy Communion enter into the fullness of our Faith.

     These are the days most important in our spiritual lives.  Therefore, let us make every effort to be with Our Lord in the Sacred Triduum and receive the abundant graces He has in store for us.

With Blessings

Fr. Langan+