A look back at… Holy Week & Easter at the cathedral
Wed. 12 Apr. / ParoisseChrism Mass
This ceremony brings together all the priests and deacons around Bishop Philippe Christory as well as many faithful from all the parishes of the diocese.
The priests, then the deacons, as well as the bishop renewed the promise of their ordination.
It is during the Chrism Mass that the oils are carried in procession and then blessed: the oil of the sick, the oil of the catechumens and the holy chrism which is used for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.
The priests of each parish take these oils with them as they are needed throughout the year.
Holy Thursday
On Holy Thursday, the Church celebrates the institution of the Eucharist: “the night he was betrayed the Lord took bread”, we sing during this mass.
This is the feast of the priests.
During the mass, the bishop washed the feet of 12 women and men, as Jesus had washed the feet of his apostles.
At the end of the ceremony, the Eucharistic reserve was solemnly carried in procession to the choir of the cathedral, where the faithful could remain in adoration until midnight.
Jeudi saint à la cathédrale, 6 avril 2023
Good Friday – Office of Darkness
On this Good Friday morning, in the cathedral lit only by the candelabra with 10 candles and the light of the new day, the faithful sang the psalms of the Office of Darkness.
After each reading, a candle was extinguished.
The cathedral is again plunged into darkness until the feast of the Resurrection, Saturday evening at the Easter Vigil.
Good Friday – Way of the Cross
Celebration of the passion of Christ.
In the afternoon, a large crowd wandered through the cathedral to follow the cross which led them to the 14 stations of the Stations of the Cross, remembering Jesus’ ascent to Calvary.
In the evening, Way of the Cross in the streets of Chartres towards the cathedral:
Office of Good Friday
Reading of the Passion according to St. John, great universal prayer, veneration of the cross and communion:
Holy Saturday – Easter Vigil
The ceremony begins outside the cathedral for the blessing of the new fire; then the bishop lights the Paschal candle and the faithful enter in procession with their lighted candles.
After the Liturgy of the Word (texts from the Old Testament interspersed with psalms), the mass began with a joyful Gloria to celebrate the risen Christ.
During the mass, three adults were baptized and confirmed.
Easter Sunday
Last great ceremony of the Easter triduum, the mass of 11:00 am in the presence of a considerable crowd come to sing: Christ is risen, Alleluia!
Dimanche de Pâques, 9 avril 2023
Easter Monday
The Easter celebrations ended on Monday afternoon with a concert by the choir with pieces by Bach, Handel, Palestrina… organ pieces played by Jean-Charles Gandrille, interspersed with Gospel passages.
In the choir of the cathedral, parishioners and visitors came in great numbers to listen to the singing of the choir, which provided the musical part of the ceremonies during the whole Holy Week.
Lundi de Pâques, concert de la Maîtrise, 10 avril 2023