Guidance on Holy Week celebrations

Vatican News

In the Noticeable Announced on Ash Wednesday – signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah, President of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, and Archbishop Arthur Roche, Secretary of the Church – who has been sent to the Episcopal Conferences around this year’s Holy Week celebrations, some guidance is provided to assist the bishops in their mission to assess concrete situations. And the search for spiritual goodness for pastors and believers to live this great week of the liturgical year.

Confronting the tragedy of the epidemic

Bearing in mind that the world is still facing the tragedy of the pandemic with its consequences and changes, even in the way the liturgy is celebrated, the rules and guidelines contained in the liturgical books, designed for ordinary times, can no longer be fully implemented because they are “times of exceptional crisis.” For this reason, the bishop, in his capacity as “the supervisor of the liturgical life of his Church, is called to take wise decisions so that the liturgical celebrations develop in a fruitful way for the people of God and for the benefit of the souls who serve him. It has been entrusted to him, taking into account the protection of health and the decisions of the bodies responsible for the public interest.”

The note indicates decree Issued by this directorate, by order of the Holy Father, on the 25th of March of last year, which provides some guidelines for the Holy Week celebrations. They are encouraged to re-read it to make the necessary decisions for the upcoming Easter celebrations according to the particular situation of each country. In fact, it reads:

The privilege of media coverage of the celebrations

After taking into account that the use of social media has greatly assisted pastors in providing support and closeness to their communities during the pandemic, “With regard to the celebrations of Holy Week, it is proposed to facilitate and distinguish media dissemination of celebrations headed by the bishop,” encouraging the faithful who would not be able to attend his church, “To follow the celebrations of the diocese as a sign of unity.”

Other recommendations

This note also requests “attention to special moments and gestures, while respecting hygienic requirements”; That if necessary, the Chrism Mass would be held “on another more convenient day” in which “important representations of priests, ministers and believers” will take place. During Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter, the same signs of last year apply. What’s more:

Finally, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacramental Organization thanks the bishops and episcopal councils for their pastoral response to a situation that is constantly changing throughout the year. It states: