Holy Week and the Priesthood

March 27th, 2010 by Fr. Kyle Schnippel

This week is a study of contradictions. We begin the week we call ‘Holy’ by welcoming Christ triumphantly into Jerusalem. Just a few short moments later, we proclaim the story of his Passion from one of the Synoptic Gospels. Holy Thursday begins the final moments of Jesus’ earthly life, while also marking the beginning of our entrance, through Him, into Eternal Life. Good Friday’s solemn veneration of the Cross and Holy Saturday’s Proclamation of the Exultet continue the contrast right up to the end, as we proclaim the ‘happy fault of Adam that earned us so great a Redeemer.’ Prayerfully re-entering these mysteries year after year, we know that these events had to come to pass so that we might be able to enter into a deeper communion with God, the Father, who loves us so much that He sent His Son for our Redemption.

In the life of a priest, this week also contains many contrasts. Lent is a mad dash of penance services, RCIA rituals and rehearsals for the Triduum. Then Holy Week itself dawns: Palm Sunday, the Chrism Mass, the celebration of the Triduum; taken together, they present a microcosm of the priest’s life: ups and downs, running from one thing to the next, hardly a chance to breathe and take in the mysteries that we celebrate, until the morning of Holy Saturday stirs quietly, as the parish sits awaiting the Light’s appearance at the Vigil.

In the midst of this chaos, a detail is easy to miss: Holy Thursday is the anniversary of our priesthood. Even though we were each ordained on different dates, we all share in the one eternal priesthood of Christ, who ‘ordained,’ as it were, the Twelve as the first priests of the New Covenant as He simultaneously established the Eucharist. These two Sacraments, the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, are intricately bound together in the mind of the Savior and are primary instruments in the plan of salvation He has laid out before us.

As Pope John Paul repeatedly pointed out in his annual ‘Letter to Priests’ for Holy Thursday, what we enter into over these days is the great banquet of Love. Not the false saccharin sweet notion of love that our modern culture presents, but the tough, dynamic true Love that desires a sacrifice of self so that others may live. During the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, Jesus looks into our eyes with a love that is so powerful, personal and profound, that he goes forth to offer himself for each one of us. He loves us so much, he is willing to die that we might be with Him.

This cuts to the heart of the matter as to why a priest, as a living symbol of this death out of life, wears black. The priest is a living sign that directs others to the redeeming death of Christ. But the priest is also called to follow in the footsteps of the Master, as Jesus promises: ‘They have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.’ Therefore, his garments are also a constant reminder that he is to die to this world to live in the next.

But this embrace of the Cross is not out of a morbid fascination with suffering and persecution. As always, the priest is the example for his people. If he shies away from a willing suffering for the sake of the Gospel, how will his people embrace their cross? If he is unwilling to die to earthly joy, will his people ever taste the glory of heaven?

In these days that we call ‘Holy,’ take extra time to pray for your priest. Pray not that he be a good priest, but that he might be an excellent priest, a holy priest, an inspiring priest.

Then, hopefully, we might all enjoy the true fruits of this season: the joy of the Resurrection to new life, in a deeper, more profound, way; for Jesus Christ continues to be present among us, and we thank our priests for helping to make this so.

Fr. Kyle Schnippel is the vocations director for the diocese of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Inspiring!

And, yes, a lot of contrasts.

Think of everything a priest does during Holy Week.

The Passion on Palm Sunday

A re-dediciation of his priesthood at the Chrism Mass. (If you haven't ever attended one -- do it this year. It is so inspiring!!!!

Washing Feet on Holy Thursday

Hearing Confessions innumerable penitents (Thank you, God.)

Holy Hours of Adoration after the Holy Thursday Mass.

No Mass and an empty tabernacle on Good Friday

Welcoming New Catholics at the Easter Vigil

Mourning the betrayal of Jesus

Prostrating himself to Christ on Good Friday

Not enough seats for everyone on Easter Sunday! (What a great problem to have!)

(I know these aren't in order -- I just typed as things flashed through my brain.

1 posted on 03/28/2010 9:57:39 PM PDT by Salvation

To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...

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2 posted on 03/28/2010 9:58:38 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Jesus says we are priests !

3 posted on 03/28/2010 10:00:00 PM PDT by Jedediah

4 posted on 03/28/2010 10:01:15 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Not enough seats for everyone on Easter Sunday! (What a great problem to have!)

Our parish is SRO for the vigil mass on Easter every year.

5 posted on 03/28/2010 10:10:05 PM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)

Are you an ordained minister or priest?

6 posted on 03/28/2010 10:34:52 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

At my parish for this year, we do not have anyone coming into the Church, but, in a way, my parish will be NEW again this Easter.

7 posted on 03/29/2010 3:18:40 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)

Also got an opportunity to go to confession this past two days ago, to see a priest who is retired. The good news is that there was a line after me. :)

8 posted on 03/29/2010 3:20:05 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)

I usually go to Confession every Saturday.

I noticed a lot more folks this Saturday.

We will be having a special service Wednesday night with four priests to hear confessions.

9 posted on 03/29/2010 3:23:34 AM PDT by mware (F-R-E-E, that spells free, Free Republic.com baby.)

After every Baptism, our priest tells the parents of the child, that their child will become a priest.

Then he explains that we are priestly people who are to go forth and share the word.

10 posted on 03/29/2010 3:27:12 AM PDT by mware (F-R-E-E, that spells free, Free Republic.com baby.)

I go each first Saturday, but since this coming first Saturday will be Holy Saturday, will be getting ready for Easter BIGTIME, my birthday, and also I will be singing/attending in my parish choir Holy Saturday evening/Easter Sunday morning, so I decided to go to confession a week early. :)

11 posted on 03/29/2010 3:31:29 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)

Thanks for the post. I recently attended a corned beef and cabbage dinner at a local protestant church. It was so sad to see how few people attended and I was told by my friend who put on the dinner that the people there were the ones who regularly attended church...So few..Sad. Then I came to Palm Sunday and my church was full and it’s a big church...What a difference.

12 posted on 03/29/2010 5:27:29 AM PDT by hstacey

Our most packed day is Good Friday for some reason. And this year, the lives for confession have been so long before and after Mass that the choir members are going to have to go on Friday at noon in order to be sure to be through before rehearsal starts. And I’d like to meet the priests that rehearse the Triduum. From where I usually am, we fly by the seat of our pants while the text messages go back and forth: “We’re ready, you can start the Ecce Sacerdos now.” “I don’t see mitres.” “He’s coming.” “I can’t see mitres.” And with a new archbishop who does things at the velocity of Speedy Gonzalez this is going to be interesting.

13 posted on 03/29/2010 5:39:15 AM PDT by Desdemona (The Triduum FReep fast begins at 6 p.m. CDT Holy Thursday.)

LOl! Texting during Mass!

The two signs of a good Church are the length of lines at the Confessional and the number of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

We had eight priests hearing confessions in all our churches during the Easter Penance services. Our church was first and we had over 100 in the line. It’s been over 250, though, when we are the last church since they rotate the order!

So congratulate yourselves and pass the word! You have a great parish and Archbishop.

14 posted on 03/29/2010 8:49:20 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Big difference between the common priesthood of the believer and the Ministerial Priesthood of the ordained, just as Scripture teaches.

15 posted on 03/29/2010 1:05:07 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)

I work for a Priest.
I have never been so happy in my life since I started working for him.

16 posted on 03/29/2010 5:05:24 PM PDT by siamesecats (God closes one door, and opens another, to protect us.)

LOl! Texting during Mass!

Well, they can't use walkie talkies, the mics are too sensitive. :) What's really funny is when "peace be with you" is texted at the sign of peace.

17 posted on 03/29/2010 5:39:22 PM PDT by Desdemona (The Triduum FReep fast begins at 6 p.m. CDT Holy Thursday.)

And you in the office or a member of the staff?

My priest was one of the reasons I STOPPED working and started coming to Daily Mass. All of a sudden the extra money and the work just wasn’t worth it. It took be about four months to formally break the ties with the local school district, though.

18 posted on 03/29/2010 8:19:33 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

I was laid off 2-26-2010 from my high powered, high paying job. Way too much stress. It was actually a blessing.
So, I now work for the Priest that supported me while I was losing my job (took 7 months to be laid off). He was there for me every time I cried, stressed out, etc. I didn’t know there were people like him. This has been the best thing that could have happened to me.

19 posted on 03/30/2010 7:45:18 AM PDT by siamesecats (God closes one door, and opens another, to protect us.)

To: Salvation; Quix; Joya

Yes I am ordained by Jesus not a man born onto sin ! HalleluJah \o/
Revelation 1:5-6 (King James Version)

5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6And hath made us kings and “priests” unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

20 posted on 03/30/2010 8:15:52 PM PDT by Jedediah

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