Celebrating the Depths & Heights of Our Faith

The season of Lent ends at sunset on Holy Thursday. The simple purple church decorations are replaced with festive white ones. After the processional hymn, the three oils blessed by the bishop are often presented to the community: the oil of catechumens (for those preparing for baptism), the oil of the sick (for the sacrament of the sick), and the sacred Chrism (for baptisms, confirmations, and ordinations).

The rite of foot washing follows the homily. In the St. Austin tradition, all parishioners are invited – but not obliged – to have their feet washed by one person and then in turn wash the feet of another person.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist proceeds as usual, except that additional hosts are consecrated for Good Friday. 

"Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

"He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him, Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: 'My Lord be with you all.' Christ answered him: 'And with your spirit.' He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying:

" 'Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.

" 'I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise.

" 'I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated....

" 'The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.' "

Holy darkness, blessed night,
Heaven's answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
We embrace your holy night.

1. I have tried you in fires of affliction;
I have taught your soul to grieve.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
there I will plant my seed.

2. I have taught you the price of compassion;
you have stood before the grave.
Though my love can seem like a raging storm,
this is the love that saves.

3. Were you there when I raised up the mountains?
Can you guide the morning star?
Does the hawk take flight when you give command?
Why do you doubt my pow'r?

Holy darkness, blessed night,
Heaven's answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
We embrace your holy night.


"Holy Darkness," as performed by Chris Brunelle: